The Indispensability Index of Vector Sets

Fuente: Zenodo
Salvato in:
Dettagli Bibliografici
Autore principale: SÉRGIO DE ANDRADE, PAULO
Natura: Recurso digital
Pubblicazione: Zenodo 2025
Soggetti:
Accesso online:
Tags: Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
_version_ 1866901191055638528
author SÉRGIO DE ANDRADE, PAULO
author_facet SÉRGIO DE ANDRADE, PAULO
contents This paper introduces the Indispensability Index (II), a novel metric designed to quantify the unique contribution of each vector within a finite set to the subspace it spans. Traditional linear algebra classifies vectors as either linearly independent or dependent, a binary distinction that does not capture the degree of a vector's importance, especially in cases of near-collinearity or within redundant spanning sets. The Indispensability Index provides a continuous measure, defined as the relative loss in the volume of the spanned parallelepiped upon the removal of a given vector. We formalize this concept using the Gram determinant, which allows the index to be computed for any subset of vectors in an inner product space. The methodology is detailed for both linearly independent and dependent sets, offering a unified framework. Theoretical properties of the index are explored, including its behavior in orthogonal and collinear cases. We present numerical results for various vector configurations in Euclidean spaces to illustrate the index's utility in identifying critical, redundant, and stabilizing vectors. The discussion highlights the potential applications of the II in fields such as feature selection, sensor placement, and the analysis of redundant systems like frames, where quantifying the contribution of individual components is crucial. The paper concludes that the Indispensability Index offers a more nuanced understanding of the internal structure of vector sets than traditional binary concepts.
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_17437146
institution Zenodo
language
publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle The Indispensability Index of Vector Sets
SÉRGIO DE ANDRADE, PAULO
Indispensability Index
Linear Algebra
Vector Space
Gram Determinant
Linear Independence
Spanning Sets
Feature Selection
This paper introduces the Indispensability Index (II), a novel metric designed to quantify the unique contribution of each vector within a finite set to the subspace it spans. Traditional linear algebra classifies vectors as either linearly independent or dependent, a binary distinction that does not capture the degree of a vector's importance, especially in cases of near-collinearity or within redundant spanning sets. The Indispensability Index provides a continuous measure, defined as the relative loss in the volume of the spanned parallelepiped upon the removal of a given vector. We formalize this concept using the Gram determinant, which allows the index to be computed for any subset of vectors in an inner product space. The methodology is detailed for both linearly independent and dependent sets, offering a unified framework. Theoretical properties of the index are explored, including its behavior in orthogonal and collinear cases. We present numerical results for various vector configurations in Euclidean spaces to illustrate the index's utility in identifying critical, redundant, and stabilizing vectors. The discussion highlights the potential applications of the II in fields such as feature selection, sensor placement, and the analysis of redundant systems like frames, where quantifying the contribution of individual components is crucial. The paper concludes that the Indispensability Index offers a more nuanced understanding of the internal structure of vector sets than traditional binary concepts.
title The Indispensability Index of Vector Sets
topic Indispensability Index
Linear Algebra
Vector Space
Gram Determinant
Linear Independence
Spanning Sets
Feature Selection
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17437146