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"We just accept their odd multiplication tables."

What is odd about the quaternions' multiplication tables? Is it the fact that the commutative property of multiplication is violated? For the sake of argument, let me assert that it is.

What if at the highest level of abstraction x * y had no obligation to equal y * x?



It is definitely not that, since the article shows that a^b = -b^a. I suppose that it's the choice that ij = k as opposed to -k?

I'm not sure, but the article's implication that nobody else cares why things work to be distracting and insulting.

> Personally, I have always found it important to actually understand the things I am using.


The geometric and exterior products used in GA are non-commutative too.


So what else does this operator do? It’s not commutative. Does (x * y) * z still equal x * (y * z)?




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