Dope Vector Definition/Meaning:
A vector of data used to assist in accessing the elements in an
array. The dope vector contains
(a) the address of a fixed element in the array - this may be the first element
present or the element that has all subscripts equated to zero;
(b) the number of subscripts associated with the array, i.e. its dimensionality;
(c) the stride associated with each subscript position, i.e. the number of
stored elements that must be skipped over when a subscript's value is changed by
1.
The position in memory of an element is found by taking the inner product of the
strides with the differences between the actual subscript values and those that
correspond to the fixed element referred to in (a), and adding to this the
address of the fixed element.
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