orthogonal Definition
- 1of or involving right angles; at right angles
- 2statistically independent
Using orthogonal: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "orthogonal" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The two lines are orthogonal to each other.
Example
The x-axis and y-axis are orthogonal in a Cartesian coordinate system.
Example
In statistics, the variables are assumed to be orthogonal to each other.
Example
The concept of time is orthogonal to the concept of space.
orthogonal Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for orthogonal
- perpendicular
- square
- rectangular
- normal
- at right angles
Phrases with orthogonal
a projection of a geometric figure onto a plane at right angles to the plane
Example
The orthogonal projection of a cube onto a plane results in a square.
a square matrix whose columns and rows are mutually orthonormal
Example
An orthogonal matrix preserves the length of vectors and the angles between them.
the set of all vectors that are perpendicular to a given vector or subspace
Example
The orthogonal complement of a line in a plane is the set of all points in the plane that are perpendicular to the line.
Origins of orthogonal
from Greek 'orthos' meaning 'straight, upright' and 'gonia' meaning 'angle'
Summary: orthogonal in Brief
The term 'orthogonal' [ɔːˈθɒɡən(ə)l] refers to things that are at right angles to each other, such as lines or axes. It can also refer to statistical variables that are independent of each other. Examples include 'The two lines are orthogonal to each other.' and 'In statistics, the variables are assumed to be orthogonal to each other.'
