Can you do Vector addition in Java, natively?

Question

I Know there's a "Vector" class in java, but it seems to be just a simpler ArrayList type of deal, not an actual, mathematical Vector (as in a magnitude and a direction).

Is there any way to do Vector manipulations (particularly addition) in Java? Or am I stuck on my own having to implement it or use a third party module?

Answer 1

Yes, you'll have to write a class or use a library such as JScience

Answer 2

If you are looking to make a vector in 2d space, couldn't you just go with a simple Point2D(x,y) and let the length of your vector define magnitude?

So that Point2D a = new Point2D(1,1); has a magnitude of 1.4, and a NE direction. And a Point2D b = new Point2D(2,2); has the same direction but a magnitude of 2.8...

Addition would then just be: Point2D c = new Point2D(a.x + b.x, a.y + b.y);

In 3d space I would create my own class, or an entirely different data structure depending on you actual problem.

Edit: I hope he has found a solution in the past 3 years..

Answer 3

I don't think there is a built-in way to do vector addition, however I've found a series describing how this could be done.