Module 1

Determinant of
a Matrix
Lesson 1: Determinants of a Matrix of Order 2

Lesson 2: Minors and Co factors of a Matrix

Lesson 3 Determinants of a Matrix of Order 3

Lesson 4: Determinant of a Matrix of Order 4

Lesson 5: Determinant of Triangular Matrix

Lesson 6: Evaluation of a Determinant Using Elementary Operations

Lesson 7: Properties of Determinant

Lesson 8: Applications of Determinants

Objectives:

Determine the determinants of a 2x2 matrix

Find the minor and cofactor of a matrix

Use expansion by cofactors to find the determinant of a matrix

Find the determinant of a triangular matrix

Use elementary row/column operations to evaluate a determinant

Recognise conditions that yield zero determinant.

Find determinant of a matrix product and a scalar multiple of a matrix

Find the inverse matrix and recognise equivalent conditions for a nonsingular matrix

Find determinant of a transpose of a matrix

Solve problems using determinant such as finding the area, volume, and the equation of
lines and planes

 Lesson 1: Determinants of a
Matrix of Order 2
Every square matrix can be associated with a real number called its determinant.
Determinants arose from the recognition of special patterns that occur in the solutions of
systems of linear equations.

For instance, the general solution of the system

a11x1 + a12 x2 = b1

a21x1 + a22 x2 = b2

b1a22 − b2a12 b2a11 − b1a21

Can be shown to be x1 = and x2 = provided that
a11a22 − a21a12 a11a22 − a21a12
a11a22 − a21a12 ≠ 0.

Both fractions have the same denominator, a11a22 − a21a12, this quantity is called the
determinant of the coefficient matrix A.

[a21 a22]
a11 a12
The determinant of the matrix A = is given by

det(A) = | A | = a11a22 − a21a12.

[1 −1]
5 0
Example: A = its determinant therefore is, (5)(−1) − (1)(0) = − 5 − 0 = − 5.

That is, | A | = − 5 or you may write it as det(A) = − 5. Watch this video given the link
for some example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ROzG6n4yMc

Exercises 1: Find the determinant of each matrix.

[1 2 ]
2 −3
1. A= = ______________________ = det(A) = ___________

[4 2 ]
2 1
2. B= = ______________________ = | B | = _____________

[2 4]
0 3
3. C= = ______________________ = | C | = _____________