What is a key advantage of using R Arrays?
a) They can store multi-dimensional data of the same type
b) They can store elements of different types
c) They can only store data in two dimensions
d) They are faster than vectors
Answer:
a) They can store multi-dimensional data of the same type
Explanation:
The key advantage of using R arrays is their ability to store multi-dimensional data of the same type. Arrays generalize matrices to higher dimensions, making them ideal for handling complex data that requires more than two dimensions, such as 3D spatial data or time-series data across multiple variables.
# Creating a 3-dimensional array
my_array <- array(1:24, dim = c(3, 4, 2))
# Printing the array
print(my_array)
# Output:
# , , 1
# [,1] [,2] [,3] [,4]
# [1,] 1 4 7 10
# [2,] 2 5 8 11
# [3,] 3 6 9 12
#
# , , 2
# [,1] [,2] [,3] [,4]
# [1,] 13 16 19 22
# [2,] 14 17 20 23
# [3,] 15 18 21 24In this example, my_array is a 3x4x2 array, storing numeric data in three dimensions. Arrays are particularly useful when working with data that naturally fits into a multi-dimensional structure, allowing you to manage and analyze complex datasets effectively.