Orthogonal Functions

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Orthogonal Functions

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A set of functions, any two of which, by analogy to orthogonal vectors, vanish if their product is summed by integration over a specified interval. </dd>
For example, f(x) and g(x) are orthogonal in the interval x = a to x = b if

Missing Image:img src="SP7_o_files/ortho1.gif"

The functions are also said to be normal if

Missing Image:img src="SP7_o_files/ortho2.gif" The most familiar examples of such functions,

many of which have great importance in mathematical physics, are the sine and cosine functions between zero and 2pi. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use