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Module
Three

DETERMINANTS
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3.2 C0 – FACTOR EXPANSION

Thus far we have evaluated determinants and examine each property. A

method for evaluating determinant of an n x n matrix which reduces the problem
to the evaluation of determinants of matrices of order n – 1 will be develop in
this section.

3.2a Minor of a Matrix

Let A = [aij] be an n x n matrix. Let Mij be the (n – 1) x (n -1) submatrix

of A obtained by deleting the ith row and jth column of A. The determinant det
( Mij) is called the minor of aij.

where: i = rows
j = columns

Example 1:
3 -1 2
Let A = , find M12, M23, and M31
4 5 6
7 1 2

Solution:
To find M12, delete the 1st row and 2nd column of A, and then find the
determinants of the obtained matrix.
4 6
(M12) =
7 2

det (M12) = (4)(2) – (7)(6) = 8 – 42 = -34

To find M23, delete the 2nd row and 3rd column, and then find the
determinants of the obtained matrix.
3 -1
(M23) =
7 1

det (M23) = (3)(1) – (7)(-1) = 3 + 7 = 10

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To find M23, delete the 3rd row and 1st column, and then find the
determinants of the obtained matrix.
-1 2
(M31) =
5 6

det (M31) = (-1)(6) – (5)(2) = - 6 – 10 = -16

Example 2:
2 3 -1
Let H = , find the minor of the elements in
-4 1 -2
the first row: 2, 3, -1
5 0 -3

Solution:

The minor of 2 is 1 -2 = -3
0 -3

-4 -2
The minor of 3 is 5 -3 = 22

-4 1
The minor of -1 is = -5
5 0

3.2b Cofactors of a Matrix

Definition:
Let a be the element in row i and column j of a square matrix A, and
let M be the minor of a. Then the cofactor A of the element a is defined by

A = (-1)i+j det (M)

where:
i = rows
j = columns
M = minor of a matrix
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Example 1:

Suppose that A is the matrix of example 1, 3.3a, find the cofactor A12, A23, A31

Solution:

A12 = (-1)1+2 det (M12) = (-1) (-34) = 34

A23 = (-1)2+3 det (M23) = (-1) (10) = - 10

A31 = (-1)3+1 det (M31) = (1) (-16) = -16

3.2c Expansion by Minors

The evaluation of a determinant by Expansion by minors consists of

selecting any row or column of that determinant, multiplying each element in
that row or column by its cofactor and adding the products obtained.

The determinant of order n may by obtain in terms of minors as follows:

|A| = a1j A2j + a2j A 2j + ….+ anj Anj

Example 1:

Given A = 5 8 6 ,find the expansion of |A| about the

-3 7 -4 second row
-1 2 0

|A| = a21 A21 + a22 A22 + a23 A23

= (-3) (-1)2+1 8 6 + (7)(-1) 2+2 5 6

2 0 -1 0

5 8
+(-4)(-1)2+3
-1 2
= 3 [0 – 12] + 7(6) + 4 (18)

= -36 + 42 + 72

= 78
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Example 2:
Given A = 5 8 6
-3 7 -4 , find the expansion of |A| about the third
-1 2 0 column

Solution:

|A| = a13 A13 + a23 A23 + a33 A33

-3 7 5 8 5 8
=(6-1)1+3 + -4 (-1)2+3 + 0(-1)3+3 -1 2
-1 2 -1 2

= 6 (1) + 4 (18) + 0

= 6 + 72

= 78

Example 3:
Given A = 5 8 6
-3 7 -4 , find the expansion of |A| about the third
-1 2 0 row

Solution:

|A| = a31A31 + a32A32 + a33A33

8 6 5 6 5 8
= (-1) (-1)3+1 + 2 (1) 3+2
+ 0 (-1)3+3
7 -4 -3 -4 -3 7

= 74 – 2 (-2) + 0

= 74 + 4

= 78
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Example 4:
Given A = 5 8 6
-3 7 -4 , find the expansion of |A| about the first
-1 2 0 column

Solution:

|A| = a11 A11 + a21 A21 + a31 A31

7 -4 8 6 8 6
= 5(-1) 1+1 + (-3)(-1)2+1 (-1)(-1)3+1
2 0 2 0 7 -4

= 40 – 36 +74

= 78

In the expression for x, the determinant, det (A), of A can be calculated

by any given method desired. It was only in the derivation of the expression for
x that we have to evaluate det (A) by expanding along the jth column.

Now, do the following practice task.