Chapter 3

Determinants
3.1 The Determinants of a Matrix
3.2 Evaluation of a Determinant Using Elementary Operations
3.3 Properties of Determinants
3.5 Applications of Determinants

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 1
 3.1 The Determinant of a Matrix
 Every square matrix can be associated with a real number called
its determinant.
 a11 a12 
Definition: The determinant of the matrix A    is given by
 a21 a22 
a11 a12
det( A)  A   a11a22  a21a12
a21 a22
2 3 +
 Example 1:  ?2(2)  1(3) = 7 A  [2]  A  ?2
1 2
2 1
 ?2(2)  1(4) = 0
4 2
0 3
 ?0(4)  2(3) = 6
2 4 MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-2
Section 3-1

Minors and Cofactors of a Matrix

 If A is a square matrix, then the minor Mij of the element aij is the
determinant of the matrix obtained by deleting the ith row and jth
column of A.
 The cofactor Cij is given by Cij = (1)i+jMij.
 a11 a12 a13  M  a12 a13  C  (1) 21 M  M

A  a21 a22 a23   21
a 32 a33
21 21 21

a31 a32 a33  M 22  a11 a13  C22  (1) 22 M 22  M 22

a31 a33
   
    
 Sign pattern for cofactors:        
     
    33  
     44
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-3
Section 3-1

Theorem 3.1 Expansion by Cofactors

 Let A be a square matrix of order n. Then the determinant of A is
given by
n
det( A)  A   aijCij  ai1Ci1  ai 2Ci 2    ainCin ith row expansion
j 1
n
det( A)  A   aijCij  a1 j C1 j  a2 j C2 j    anjCnj jth column expansion
i 1
 For any 33 matrix:
  
 a11 a12 a13  a11 a12 a13 a11 a12
A  a21 a22 a23  a21 a22 a23 a21 a22
a31 a32 a33  a31 a32 a33 a31 a32
+ + +
A  a11a22a33  a12a23a31  a13a21a32  a31a22a13  a32a23a11  a33a21a12

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-4

Section 3-1

Examples 2 & 3
Find all the minors and cofactors of A, 0 2 1
and then find the determinant of A. A   3  1 2
Sol: 4 0 1
1 2 3 2 3 1
M 11   1, M 12   5, M 13  4
0 1 4 1 4 0
C11  1 C12  5 C13  4
M 21  2, M 22  4, M 23  8, C21  2, C22  4, C23  8,
M 31  5, M 32  3, M 33  6. C31  5, C32  3, C33  6.

A  a11C11  a12C12  a13C13  0(1)  2(5)  1(4)  14

 a21C21  a22C22  a23C23  3(2)  (1)(4)  2(8)  14
 a11C11  a21C21  a31C31  0(1)  3(2)  4(5)  14
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-5
Section 3-1

Example 5
0 2 1
Find the determinant of
A   3  1 2


Sol:
4  4 1
(4) (0) (6)
0 2 1 0 2 0 2 1
3 1 2 3 1 3 1 2
4 4 1 4 4 4 4 1
+(0) +(16) +(12)
A  0  16  (12)  (4)  0  6  2

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-6

Section 3-1

Example 4  1 2 3 0
 1 1 0 2
A 
 Find the determinant of
 0 2 0 3
 
 3 4 0  2
Sol: Expansion by which row or which column?
 the 3rd column: three of the entires are zeros
1 1 2 1 1 2  (1)( 2)( 2)  0(4)( 2)  1(3)(3)
C13  (1)13 0 2 3 0 2 3  3(2)( 2)  4(3)( 1)  0(1)( 2)
3 4 2 3 4  2  4  9  12  12  13
2 1 1 2 2 2  1 2 23  1 1
 (0)(1)  (2)(1)  (3)(1)
4 2 3 2 3 4
 0  (2)(4)  (3)(7)  13 A  a13C13  3(13)  39
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-7
Section 3-1

Triangular Matrices
 The square matrix A is upper triangular, if all the entries below
the main diagonal are zero.
 The square matrix A is lower triangular, if all the entries above
the main diagonal are zero.

 Theorem 3.2: If A is a triangular matrix of order n, then its

determinant is the product of the entires on the main diagonal.
That is,
det( A)  A  a11a22a33  ann

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-8

Section 3-1

Example
2 3 1
11  1 2
0  1 2  ?2(1)  2[(1)(3)  0(2)]  6
0 3
0 0 3
1 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0
0 3 0 0 0
4 2 0 0
? 0 0 2 0 0 ?
5 6 1 0
0 0 0 4 0
1 5 3 3
0 0 0 0 2
 2(2)(1)(3)
 (1)(3)(2)(4)(2)
 12
 48

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-9

 3.2 Evaluation of a Determinant
Using Elementary Operations
 Which of the following two determinants is easier to evaluate?
1 2 3 1 6 3 2 4 3 2
4 6 3 2  1 4  9  3  (2)(1)  2  9  3
A
2 4 9 3 6 9 2 3 9 2
3 6 9 2 4 6 2 4 6 3
By elementary row operations 3 2 4  3  1(1)  2 4 9
3 6 2 3 6 9
1 2 3 1  1(60)  2(39)  3(10)  (18)  6
0 2 9 2
B
0 0  3  1  (1)( 2)( 3)( 1)  6
0 0 0 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-10
Section 3-2

Theorem 3.3 Elementary Row Operations and Determinants

 Let A and B be square matrices.

1. If B is obtained from A by interchanging two rows of A, then det(B) = det(A).

2. If B is obtained from A by adding a multiple of a row of A to another row of A,

then det(B) = det(A).

3. If B is obtained from A by multiplying a row of A by a nonzero constant c, then

det(B) = cdet(A).

Take a common factor out of a row

2 1 3 4 3 2 1
3. B 
6 3
6
A 2 1. B   2 2. B  2
4 3 2 1 0 1 4 3
(2)
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-11
Section 3-2

Example 2
2  3 10

 Find the determinant of A  1 2  2 
 
Sol: 0 1  3
2  3 10 1 2  2 (2) 1 2 2
1 2  2   2  3 10   0  7 14
0 1 3 0 1 3 0 1 3
Factor 7 out of the 2nd row
1 2 2 1 2 2
 70 1 2  7 0 1  2  7(1)(1)(1)  7
(1)
0 1 3 0 0 1

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-12

Section 3-2

Determinants and
Elementary Column Operations
 Although Theorem 3.3 was stated in terms of elementary row
operations, the theorem remains valid if the word “row” is replaced
by the word “column.”
 Operations performed on the column of a matrix are called
elementary column operations.
 Two matrices are called column-equivalent if one can be obtained
from the other by elementary column operations.

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-13

Section 3-2

Example 3
 1 2 2
 Find the determinant of A 
 3 6 4 
 
Sol:  5  10  3

1 2 2 1 0 2
3 6 4  3 0 4  (0)C12  (0)C22  (0)C32  0
5  10  3 5 0 3
Expansion by the
(2) second column

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-14

Section 3-2

Theorem 3.4 Conditions That Yield a Zero Determinant

 If A is a square matrix and any one of the following conditions is
true, then det(A) = 0.
1. An entire row (or an entire column) consists of zeros.
2. Two rows (or columns) are equal.
3. One row (or column) is a multiple of another row (or column).

(3)
(1) 1  2 4
0 0 0 1 2 3
2 4 5  0 0 1 2 0 2 1  6  0
3 5 2 1 2 4 2 0 6

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-15

Section 3-2

Examples 4 & 5
(2)
1 4 1 1 4 1
2  1 0  ?0  9  2  0
0 18 4 0 18 4

3 5 2 3 5 4
31 5 4
2  4 1  ? 2  4 3  3(1)
4 3
3 0 6 3 0 0
(2)  3(1)(1)  3

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-16

Section 3-2

Example 6  2 0 1 3  2
 2 1 3 2  1

 Find the determinant of A   1 0 1 2 3
  (1)
Sol:  3 1 2 4  3
2 0 1 3 2  1 1 3 2 0
2 1 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 8 1 3 2
A  1 0 1 2 3
2 2 1  1 2 3  8 1 2 3
1 0 5 6  4  (1)(1) 1 5 6 4

13 5 6 4
3 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
(3)
8 1 3 0 0 5
 8 1
 (1)(1) 4 4  8  1 2   8  1 2  5(1) 2 2  5(40  13)
13 5
13 5 6 13 5 6  135
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-17
 3.3 Properties of Determinants
Example 1: Find A , B , and AB for the matrices
 1  2 2 2 0 1
A  0 3 2 and B  0  1  2
 1 0 1  3 1  2
Sol: 1 2 2 2 0 1
A0 3 2  7 and B  0  1  2  11  A B  77
1 0 1 3 1 2
 1  2 2  2 0 1 8 4 1
AB  0 3 2 0  1  2  6  1  10  AB  77
 1 0 1  3 1  2 5 1  1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-18
Section 3-3

Theorems 3.5 & 3.6

Theorem 3.5: Determinant of a Matrix Product
 If A and B are square matrices of order n, then

det(AB) = det(A) det(B)

Remark: A1 A2 A3  Ak  A1 A2 A3  Ak
A  B  A B
Theorem 3.6: Determinant of a Scalar Multiple of a Matrix
 If A is a nn matrix and c is a scalar, then the determinant of cA is
given by det(cA) = cn det(A).

Remark: [Thm. 3.3] If B is obtained from A by multiplying a row of

A by a nonzero constant c, then det(B) = cdet(A).
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-19
Section 3-3

Example 2
 10  20 40
 Find the determinant of the matrix A 
 30 0 50 
 
Sol:  1  2 4 1  2 4  20  30 10
A  10 3 0 5  3 0 5 5
 2  3 1 2 3 1
1 2 4
 A  103 3 0 5  1000(5)  5000
2 3 1
 6 2
A   A 2
2 1  9 9
A B     A  B  18
3 7  2 0
B   B  3  A B
0  1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-20
Section 3-3

 Theorems 3.7 & 3.8

Theorem 3.7: Determinant of an Invertible Matrix
A square matrix A is invertible (nonsingular) if and only if det(A)  0.

Theorem 3.8: Determinant of an Inverse Matrix

If A is invertible, then det(A1) = 1 / det(A).

Hint: A is invertible
 AA1 = I  AA1  I  1

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-21

Section 3-3

Example 3 & 4
Example 3: Which of the matrices has an inverse?
0 2  1 0 2  1
A   3  2 1 B   3  2 1
 3 2  1  3 2 1
Sol: A  0 (singular) B  12  0 (nonsingul ar)
It has no inverse. It has an inverse.
1
Example 4: Find A for the matrix
Sol:  1 0 3 1 1 1

A   3  1 2  A 4  A  
A 4
2 1 0
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-22
Section 3-3

Equivalent Conditions for a Nonsingular Matrix

 If A is an nn matrix, then the following statements are equivalent.
1. A is invertible.
2. Ax = b has a unique solution for every n1 column vector b.
3. Ax = O has only the trivial solution.
4. A is row-equivalent to In.
5. det(A)  0.

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-23

Section 3-3

Determinant of a Transpose
Theorem 3.9: If A is a square matrix, then det(A)=det(AT).

Example 6: Show that A  AT for the following matrix.

Sol:  3 1  2
A   2 0 0 A  (2)(1) 21 1  2  (2)(3)  6
1 5
 4  1 5
 3 2  4 1 1

A   1 0  1
T   AT
 ( 2)( 1)1 2
 (2)(3)  6
2 5
 2 0 5
Thus, A  AT .
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-24
 3.5 Applications of Determinants
If A is a square matrix, then the matrix of cofactors of A has the form
C11 C12  C1n 
C  C2 n 
 21 C22
    
 
Cn1 Cn 2  Cnn 

 The transpose of this matrix is called the adjoint of A and is denoted

by adj(A). C11 C21  Cn1 
C C  C 
adj( A)   12 22 n2 

    
 
C1n C2 n  Cnn 
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-25
Section 3-5

Example 1
 1 3 2
 Find the adjoint of A   0  2 1
Sol:  1 0  2
The matrix of cofactors of A:
2 1 0 1 0 2 1 3 2 1 3
  
 0  2 1  2 1 0  0 2 1 0 2
 3 2 1 2 1 3  1 0 2 1 0
   
 0  2 1  2 1 0  1 3 2 1 3
 3 2 1 2 1 3 0 2 1 0 2
 2 1  
 0 1 0  2 
 4 1 2 4 6 7 
   adj ( A)   1 0 1
 6 0 3  
7 1 2 2 3 2
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-26
Section 3-5

Theorem 3.10 The Inverse of a Matrix Given by Its Adjoint

1
1
If A is an nn invertible matrix, then A  adj( A)
det( A)

a b   d  b
If A is 22 matrix A    , then the adjoint of A is adj( A)   .
c d   c a

Form Theorem 3.10 you have

1 1 1  d  b
A  adj( A) 
A ad  bc  c a 

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-27

Section 3-5

Example 2
 1 3 2
 Use the adjoint of A 
 0 2 1  to find A.1
 
 1 0  2
Sol: A  (1)(2)(2)  (3)(1)(1)  (1)(2)(2)  3
4 6 7 
adj( A)   1 0 1
2 3 2
4 6 7  43 2 7
3 
 
adj( A)   1 0 1   13
1 1
A1  0 1
3 
A 3
2 3 2  23 1 2
3

Check AA1  I ?

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-28

Section 3-5

Theorem 3.11: Cramer’s Rule

 If a system of n linear equations in n variables has a coefficient
matrix with a nonzero determinant A , then the solution of the
system is given by
det( A1 ) det( A2 ) det( An )
x1  , x2  ,  , xn  ,
det( A) det( A) det( A)
where the ith column of Ai is the column of constants in the system
of equations.
a11x1  a12 x2  a13 x3  b1 a11 a12 b1 a11 a12 a13
 A3

 21 1 22 2 23 3
a x a x  a x  b 2  x3   a21 a22 b2 a21 a22 a23
a x  a x  a x  b A
 31 1 32 2 33 3 3 a31 a32 b3 a31 a32 a33

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-29

Section 3-5

Example 4
 Use Cramer’s Rule to solve the system of linear equation for x.
 x  2 y  3z  1
2x  z 0
3x  4 y  4 z  2
Sol: 1 2 3
A 2 0 1  10  0 (the system has an unique solution)
3 4 4
3 8
1 2 3 y , z
2 5
0 0 1
A1 2 4 4 (2)(1)(2)  (4)(1)(1) 8 4
x    
A 10 10 10 5
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-30
Section 3-5

Area of a Triangle
 The area of a triangle whose vertices
are (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3) is
x1 y1 1
1
given by Area   x2 y2 1
2
x3 y3 1
where the sign () is chosen to give a positive area.
pf: Area = 12 ( y1  y3 )( x3  x1 )  12 ( y3  y2 )( x2  x3 ) 2 ( y1  y2 )( x2  x1 )
1

 12 ( x1 y2  x2 y3  x3 y1  x1 y3  x2 y1  x3 y2 )
x1 y1 1
1
 x2 y 2 1
2
x3 y3 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-31
Section 3-5

Example 5
Fine the area of the triangle whose vertices are (1, 0), (2, 2), and (4, 3).
Sol: 1 0 1 (4,3)
1 3 3
2 2 1    Area 
2 2 2 (2,2)
4 3 1

(1,0)

 Fine the area of the triangle whose vertices are (0, 1), (2, 2), and (4, 3).
0 1 1
1
2 2 1  0  Area  0 Three points in the xy-plane lie on the same line.
2
4 3 1 MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-32
Section 3-5

Collinear Pts & Line Equation

 Test for Collinear Points in the xy-Plane
Three points (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3) are collinear if and only if
x1 y1 1
x2 y2 1  0
x3 y3 1
 Two-Point Form of the Equation of a Line
An equation of the line passing through the distinct points (x1, y1)
and (x2, y2) is given by
x y 1
x1 y1 1  0 The 3rd point: (x, y)
x2 y2 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-33
Section 3-5

Example 6
Find an equation of the line passing through the points (2, 4) and (1, 3).
Sol:
x y 1
2 4 10
1 3 1
4 1 2 1 2 4
x  y 1 0
3 1  1 1 1 3
 x  3 y  10  0
An equation of the line is x  3y = 10.

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-34

Section 3-5

Volume of Tetrahedron
 The volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices are (x1,y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3),
and (x4, y4, z4), is given by
x1 y1 z1 1
1 x2 y2 z2 1
Volume  
6 x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1

where the sign () is chosen to give a positive area.

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-35

Section 3-5

Example
 Find the volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices are (0,4,1), (4,0,0),
(3,5,2), and (2,2,5).
Sol:
0 4 1 1
14 0 0 1 1
 (72)  12
63 5 2 1 6
2 2 5 1
 Volume  12

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-36

Section 3-5

Test for Coplanar Points in Space

 Test for Coplanar Points in Space
Four points (x1,y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3), and (x4, y4, z4) are
coplanar if and only if
x1 y1 z1 1
x2 y2 z2 1
0
x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-37

Section 3-5

Three-Point Form of the Equation of a Plane

 Three-Point Form of the Equation of a Plane
An equation of the plane passing through the distinct points (x1,y1, z1),
(x2, y2, z2), and (x3, y3, z3) is given by
x y z 1
x1 y1 z1 1
0
x2 y2 z2 1
x3 y3 z3 1

MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-38

Section 3-5

Example 8
 Find an equation of the plane passing through the points (0,1,0),
(1,3,2) and (2,0,1).
Sol: (1)
x y z 1 x y 1 z 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
0  0
1 3 2 1 1 2 2 1
2 0 1 1 2 1 1 1

x y 1 z
 1 2 2 0  4 x  3 y  5z  3
2 1 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-39