Hands-On GPU Computing with Python

Tensors by example

You might have come across this term many times, primarily because of the popular TensorFlow frameworks and TPU. Before understanding what a tensor is, it is important to recall our high school understanding of scalar and vector. Scalars have only magnitude but no direction, whereas vectors have both.

An example of a scalar would be temperature. The temperature has only magnitude that can be represented with a Celsius/Fahreinheit/kelvin unit with no directional attribute at all. Such a scalar can be called as tensor of rank 0.

An example of a vector would be velocity. Velocity has both magnitude and direction that can be represented with a distance unit with respect to time. Such a vector can be called as tensor of rank ...