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Module
Three

DETERMINANTS
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Introduction
In the last module, multiplicative inverses of 2 by 2 matrices discussed
and showed that a matrix A has a multiplicative inverse A-1 if a certain real
number associated with the matrix is non – zero.
Another very important number associated with a square matrix A is the
determinant of A. however, the use of determinants in the solutions of systems
of linear equations is merely one of the numerous applications of determinants.

3.1 DETERMINANTS AND THEIR PROPERTIES

The determinant of a square matrix is a single number calculated by

combining all the elements of a matrix. Determinants of a matrix A is determined
by |A|.

The second order determinant is defined by:

a11 a12
|A| = a21 a22 = a11 a22 - a12 a21

Example 1:
Compute the value of determinant.
4 -8
A=
-3 10

Solution:
|A| = (4) (10) – (-3) (- 8)
= 40 – 24
= 16

Example 2:
Compute the value of determinant

B= 7 2
5 0

Solution:
| B| = 7 (0) – (5)(2)
= 0 – 10
= -10
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Example 3:

A = t–1 2
3 t-2

Solution:

|A| = (t-1) (t-2) – (3) (2)

= t2 – 3t + 2 - 6

= t2 – 3t – 4

The third order determinant is defined by

a11 a12 a13
|A| = a21 a22 a23 = a11a22a33 + a12a23a31+a13a21a32 – a13a22a31-a11a23a32 -
a31 a32 a33 a12a21a33

To remember this algebraic sum, rewrite the first and second columns.
Form the sum of the products of the entries in the lines from left to right and
subtract from this number of the products of entries on the lines from right to
left.
a11 a12 a13 a11 a12
|A| = a21 a22 a23 a21 a22
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32

Example 4:
Compute the value of determinant

1 2 3
A= 2 1 3
3 1 2

Solution:

|A| = (1)(1)(2) + (2)(3)(3) + (3)(2)(1) – (3)(1)(3) – (1)(3)(1) - (2)(2)(2)

|A| = 6
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We could obtain the same result by using the easy method illustrated
above:

1 2 3 1 2
2 1 3 2 1
3 1 2 3 1

|A| = (1)(1)(2) + (2)(3)(3) + (3)(2)(1) – (3)(1)(3) – (1)(3)(1) - (2)(2)(2)

|A| = 6

Example 5:
Compute the value of the determinant

4 3 1
A= 15 7 0
-3 -2 0

Solution:
|A| = (4)(7)(0) + (3)(0)(-3) + (1)(15)(-2) – (-3)(7)(1) – (-2)(0)(4) -
(0)(15)(3)

|A| = -9

PROPERTIES OF DETERMINANTS

Examine the following properties to simplify the computations of the

determinants
1. If A is a matrix, then det (A) = det (AT)
This is interesting since it implies that whenever we use rows, a similar
behavior will result if we use columns. In particular we will see how elementary
operations are helpful in finding the determinant.
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Verification:
1 2 3
2 1 3
Let A =
3 1 2
Solution:
|A| = (1)(1)(2) + (2)(3)(3) + (3)(2)(1) – (3)(1)(3) – (1)(3)(1) - (2)(2)(2)
|A| = 6
1 2 3
AT = 2 1 1
3 3 2

|AT| = (1)(1)(2) + (2)(1)(3) + (3)(2)(3) – (1)(1)(3) – (2)(2)(2) - (3)(1)(3)

|AT| = 6

2. If matrix B results from matrix A by interchanging two rows (columns) of A,

then det. (B) = - det (A)

Verification:

Let A = 2 -1 B= 3 2
3 2 2 -1

Solution:

|A| = (2)(2) – (-1)(3) |B| = (3)(-1) – (2)(2)

= 7 = -7

The determinant of matrix B is the opposite of the matrix

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3. If two rows (column) of A are equal, then det (A) = 0

Verification:

Let A = 1 2 3
-1 0 7
1 2 3

Solution:

|A| = (1)(0)(3) + (2)(7)(1) + (3)(-1)(2) – (1)(0)(3) – (2)(7)(1) - (3)(-1)(2)

|A| = 0

4. If a row (column) of A consists entirely of zeros, then det (A) = 0

Verification:

Let A = 1 2 3
4 5 6
0 0 0
Solution:

|A| = (1)(5)(0) + (2)(6)(0) + (3)(4)(0) – (0)(5)(3) – (0)(6)(1) - (0)(4)(2)

|A| = 0

In particular, if all the entries in one row (column) are zero, then the
determinant is zero.

5. If B is obtained from A by multiplying a row (column) of A by a real number c,

then det (B) = c det (A).
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Verification:

Let B= 2 6
1 12

det (B) = 2 ( 12 ) – 1 ( 6 ) = 18

To simplify the computation of det (A) factor out the common factors of
rows and columns of A.

Factor out the first row 2 6 =2 1 3

1 12 1 12

Factor out the second column 2 1 3 = 2(3) 1 1

1 12 1 4

c det (A) = 6 ( 4 -1 ) = 18

6. If B is obtained from A by adding each element of the rth row (column) of A, c

times the corresponding element of the sth row (column), r ≠ s of A, then
det ( B) = det (A)

Verification:
1 2 3 5 0 9
We have 2 -1 3 = 2 -1 3
1 0 1 1 0 1

It is obtained by adding twice the second row to the first row. By applying
the definition of determinant to the second determinant, both are seen to have
the value 4.

Now, do the following practice task.