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Grassmann Algebra

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TheInteriorProduct.nb 44<br />

6.15 Historical Notes<br />

<strong>Grassmann</strong>'s definition of the interior product<br />

<strong>Grassmann</strong> and workers in the <strong>Grassmann</strong>ian tradition define the interior product of two<br />

elements as the product of one with the complement of the other, the product being either<br />

exterior or regressive depending on which interpretation produces a non-zero result.<br />

Furthermore, when the grades of the elements are equal, it is defined either way. This definition<br />

involves the confusion between scalars and n-elements discussed in Chapter 5, Section 5.1<br />

(equivalent to assuming a Euclidean metric and identifying scalars with pseudo-scalars). It is to<br />

obviate this inconsistency and restriction on generality that the approach adopted here bases its<br />

definition of the interior product explicitly on the regressive exterior product.<br />

2001 4 5

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