DETERMINANT

DETERMINANT
DETERMINANT
- array of mathematical elements
- a square array of elements (matrix) that itself has a numerical value, used in various
mathematical processes such as solving simultaneous equations and studying linear
transformations
THEOREMS OF DETERMINANTS OF ANY ORDER
1. The number of terms in the expansion of a determinant of order
“n” is n! thus,
Order Number of Terms
2 2!
3 3!
4 4!
5 5!
… …
n n!
2. If the corresponding rows and columns of a determinant are
interchanged, its value is unchanged. Thus,
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎11 𝑎21 𝑎31

𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 = 𝑎12 𝑎22 𝑎32
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 𝑎13 𝑎23 𝑎33
3. If any two columns ( or rows) of a determinant are interchanged the sign of the
determinant is changed. So that:
A.) 𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎12 𝑎11 𝑎13
𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 = 𝑎22 𝑎21 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 𝑎32 𝑎31 𝑎33
The first column is interchanged with the second column.
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33

B.) 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 𝑎2 𝑎31 𝑎33
The first row is interchanged with the third row.
4. If all the elements in any column (or row) of a determinant are zero, its value is zero. Hence,
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13

𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 = 0
0 0 0
5. If any two columns or rows of a determinant have their corresponding elements identical or
proportional, its value is zero. Thus,
5 1 4  1 3 −1
1 2 3  = 0  2 6 −3 = 0
   
5 1 4   3 9 8 
In the first determinant, the first and third rows are identical; and in the second determinant,
the first and second columns are proportional
6. If each element of a column or row in a determinant is multiplied by the same number k, the
value od the determinant is multiplied by k. Thus,
 ka11 ka12 ka13   a11 a12 a13 

 ka ka22  
ka23  = k  a21 a22 
a23 
 21
 ka31 ka32 ka33   a31 a32 a33 
Determinants of Order 2 and 3
1.) A determinant D of order 2 has the value :
𝑎1 𝑏1
𝐷= = 𝑎1 𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏1
𝑎2 𝑏2
2.) A determinant D of order 3 has the value :
 a1 b1 c1 
D =  a2 b2 c2  = a1b2 c3 + a3b1c2 + a2b3c1 − a3b2c1 − a1b3c2 − a2b1c3
 a3 b3 c3 
The value may also be obtained by rewriting the first two columns as shown below and
evaluating as indicated.
 a1 b1 b1 
c1 a1
 
D =  a2 b2 c2 a2 b2 
 a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 

= a1b2 c3 + a3b1c2 + a2b3c1 − a3b2c1 − a1b3c2 − a2b1c3
Note:
The above methods of evaluating determinant of order 2 and 3, however, are insufficient for higher order
determinants, n>4
Sample Problems:
Find the value of the determinant.
1.
3 4  Ans.: D = 2
D= 
1 2 
2.
 6 5 0

D =  −2 3 1 
Ans.: D = 65
 1 4 3 
Sample Problem
1 a a 
3. Evaluate: 2
 2
D = 1 b b 
1 c c 2 
 
Ans.: D = ( b − a )( c − a )( c − b )
Sample Problem
4. Find the values of t which satisfy the equation
t − 1 2 
 3 t − 2 = 0
 
Sample Problem
5. Find all the values of x which satisfy the equation
 x (3 + x) −10 
 (1 − x) (2 − x) 5  = 48
 
 2 (4 + x) − x 
Ans.: x = 3 and x = −6
MINORS AND COFACTORS
◦ The minor Mij of the element aij in the ith row and jth column in any
determinant of order m is a new determinant of order (n-1) formed from the
elements remaining after deleting the ith row and jth column.
◦ Thus for the determinant 𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
D = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Two of the minors are
 a12 a13   a21 a22 

M 21 =  M 13 = 
a33   a31 a32 
 a32
The cofactor Aij of the element aij in any determinant of order m is that signed
minor determined by:
i+ j
Aij = (−1) M ij
Thus for the preceding determinant,
 a12 a13  1+ 3  a21 a22 

A21 = (−1) 2 +1
M 21 = −1  A13 = (−1) M 13 = 1 
 a32 a33   a31 a32 
Expansion of Determinant by Minors
Theorem: The value of a determinant is the algebraic sum of the products
obtained by multiplying each element of a column (or row) by its
cofactor or signed minor
Hence, expanding the given determinant about the second column,
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
D = a12 A12 + a22 A22 + a32 A32
D = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
D = a12 ( −1) M 12 + a22 ( −1) M 22 + a32 ( −1) M 32
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 1+ 2 2+ 2 3+ 2
a21 a23 a11 a13 a11 a13

D = a12 ( −1) + a22 ( −1) + a32 ( −1)
1+ 2 2+ 2 3+ 2
a31 a33 a31 a33 a21 a23

Sample Problem:
1. Evaluate using cofactor expansion
 4 0 5
D =  −1 2 3 
 3 1 2 
Ans.: D = −31
Sample Problem
 1 −2 3 4 
 −2 1 −3 3 
D= 
 4 3 2 −1
 
3 4 5 2
Ans.: D = 340
Sample Problem
 1 2 −1 2
3 0 1 5 
D=
 1 −2 0 3
 
 −2 −4 1 6
Ans.: D = 90
Evaluation of Determinants by Pivotal
Element Method
One of the useful methods in evaluating a determinant is called the pivotal element method. The
steps for this method consists of the following:
1. If the given determinant of order “n” has an element equal to one or unity, choose this
particular element as the pivotal element. Otherwise, choose some convenient element. Reduce
this to unity by dividing either the ith row or the jth column by aij and then balancing by multiplying
the determinant also by aij.
2. Cross out the row and column through aij .
3. From each element of the resulting determinant of order (n-1), subtract the product of the
elements in which the row and column containing the aij are met by the row and column
containing that element
4. Then the value of the given determinant is (1-)i+j times the value of the new determinant.
Sample Problem:
1. Evaluate using pivotal method
 2 3 3
D =  0 1 5 
 −4 −1 9 
Ans.: D = −20
Sample Problem:
 1 2 −1 2
3 0 1 5 
D=
 1 −2 0 3
 
 −2 −4 1 6
Ans.: D = 90
Sample Problem:
 5 −1 8 −3
 4 −6 −3 2 
D= 
5 4 9 7 
 
 2 0 5 0 
Ans.: D = 720
Sample Problem:
3 2 4 4
 0 7 9 −2 
D= 
 −1 −8 −3 3 
 
 5 6 9 5 
Ans.: D = −96

DETERMINANT

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DETERMINANT

𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎11 𝑎21 𝑎31

The first column is interchanged with the second column.

𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33

𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13

 ka11 ka12 ka13   a11 a12 a13 

Two of the minors are

 a12 a13   a21 a22 

Thus for the preceding determinant,

 a12 a13  1+ 3  a21 a22 

a21 a23 a11 a13 a11 a13

a31 a33 a31 a33 a21 a23

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