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Application of Determinant

Application of Determinant:

1. Area of a triangle : Let A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2), C(x3, y3) be the vertices of a triangle, then area of the triangle
x1 y1 1
1
ABC is ABC = x2 y2 1 .
2
x3 y3 1

2. Condition of collinearity of three points : Three points A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2), C(x3, y3) will be collinear if
x1 y1 1
x2 y2 1 = 0 .
x3 y3 1

3. Solution of linear simultaneous equations : Cramer’s rule:

i) Let a1x + b1 y = c1

a 2 x + b2 y = c2

1 
Then x = and y = 2 , provided   0 and
 
a1 b1 c b1 a c1
= , 1 = 1 and  2 = 1
a2 b2 c2 b2 a2 c2

ii) Let a 1x + b1 y + c1z = d1

a 2 x + b2 y + c2z = d 2

a 3 x + b 3 y + c3 z = d 3

1  
Then x = , y = 2 and z = 3 , provided   0 and
  

a1 b1 c1 d1 b1 c1 a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
 = a2 b2 c 2 , 1 = d 2 b2 c2 ,  2 = a 2 d2 c2 and  3 = a 2 b 2 d 2
a3 b3 c3 d3 b3 c3 a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3

Illustrative Examples :
1. Using determinant find the area of the triangle formed by the points (-2, 4), (2, -6) and (5, 4).
Solution : Required area
x1 y1 1 −2 4 1
2 − 6 1 = − 2(− 6 − 4) − 4(2 − 5) + 1(8 + 30) = 35 sq. units .
1 1 1
= x2 y2 1 =
2 2 2
x3 y3 1 5 4 1

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Application of Determinant

2. If the points (1, 5), (t, 1) and (11, 7) are collinear, find the value of t.
1 5 1
Solution : Since the given points are collinear, t 1 1 = 0
11 7 1

or, 1(1 − 7 ) − 5(t − 11) + 1(7 t − 11) = 0 or, 2t = -38  t = −19 Ans.

3 7
3. Solve by Cramer’s rule : 2x − = 9 ; 3x + = 2
y y

Solution : Given equations can be written as

1
2x − 3  =9
y

1
3x + 7  =2
y

2 −3
Here,  = = 7  2 − 3  (− 3) = 23  0
3 7

9 −3 2 9
and  1 = = 7  9 − 2  (− 3) = 69 ,  2 = = 2  2 − 3  9 = −23
2 7 3 2

1 1  69 1 23
By Cramer’s rule, x = and = 2 or, x = = 3 and = − = −1
 y  23 y 23

 x = 3, y = −1

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Application of Determinant

4. Solve by Cramer’s rule : x − 2y + z = −1, 3x + y − 2z = 4, y − z = 1 .

Solution : Given equations can be written as :

x − 2 y + z = −1

3x + y − 2z = 4

0 x + y − z =1

1 −2 1
Here  = 3 1 − 2 = 1(− 1 + 2) − (− 2)(− 3 − 0) + 1(3 − 0) = −2  0
0 1 −1

−1 − 2 1
1 = 4 1 − 2 = (− 1)(− 1 + 2) − (− 2)(− 4 + 2) + 1(4 − 1) = −2
1 1 −1

1 −1 1
2 = 3 4 − 2 = 1(− 4 + 2) − (− 1)(− 3 − 0) + 1(3 − 0) = −2
0 1 −1

1 −2 −1
3 = 3 1 4 = 1(1 − 4) − (− 2)(3 − 0) − 1(3 − 0) = 0
0 1 1

1  
By Cramer’s rule, x = , y = 2 and z = 3
  
−2 −2 0
or, x = = 1, y = = 1 and z = =0  x = 1, y = 1, z = 0 .
−2 −2 −2

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Application of Determinant

1 1 1 3 5 6 9 2 36
5. Solve by Cramer’s rule : + + = 1; + + =4; + − = 17
x y z x y z x y z

1 1 1
Solution : Here  = 3 5 6 = 1(− 180 − 12) − 1(− 108 − 54) + 1(6 − 45) = −69  0
9 2 − 36

1 1 1
1 = 4 5 6 = 1(− 180 − 12) − 1(− 144 − 102) + 1(8 − 85) = −23
17 2 − 36

1 1 1
2 = 3 4 6 = 1(− 144 − 102 ) − 1(− 108 − 54 ) + 1(51 − 36) = −69
9 17 − 36

1 1 1
 3 = 3 5 4 = 1(85 − 8) − 1(51 − 36) + 1(6 − 45) = 23
9 2 17

1 1 1  2 1 
By Cramer’s rule, = , = and = 3
x  y  z 

1 −23 1 1 −69 1 23 1
or, = = , = = 1 and = =−
x − 69 3 y − 69 z − 69 3

 x = 3, y = 1, z = −3 .

Exercise :
1. Find the area of the triangle formed by the points (3, 4), (5, 7) and (-5, 2).
2. Using determinant, show that the points (b, c + a), (c, a + b) and (a, b + c) are collinear.
3. Solve by Cramer’s rule :
i) 2x – y = 17, 3x + 5y = 6.
ii) x + 2y + 3z = 5; 3x - 2y + z = -1; 4x + 2y + z = 13.
iii) x + 2y + 2z = 10; 2x − y + 3z = 12; 3x − 2y − z = 1 .

iv) x + y − 4z = 0 ; 2x + 2y − 3z − 4 = 0 ; 2x + y + z − 7 = 0 .

1 3 2 2
v) 2x − = 3; − = 5; − x = −4 .
y y z z

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