Determinants

Determinant - a square array of

numbers or variables enclosed between
parallel vertical bars.

**To find a determinant you must have

a SQUARE MATRIX!!**
Finding a 2 x 2 determinant:

a b
= ad - bc
c d
 Find the determinant:
−5 −7
1.
11 8 =−5(8) − (−7)(11) = −40 − (−77)
−40 + 77 = 37
3 2
2.
−1 5
= 3(5) − (2)(−1) = 15 − (−2)
15 + 2 = 17
 10 −2
3.
0 −3
= 10(-3) - (-2)(0)
= -30 + 0 = -30
Finding a 3x3 determinant: Diagonal method
−2 3 8
Step 1: Rewrite first two
4. 6 7 −1 rows of the matrix.
−4 5 9
 -224 +10 +162 = -52
Step 2: multiply
−2 3 8 −2 3
diagonals going up!
4. 6 7 −1 6 7
−4 5 9 −4 5 Step 2: multiply
diagonals going down!
-126 +12 +240 =126

126 - (-52) Step 3: Bottom

minus top!
126 + 52
= 178
 -18 +50 +6 = 38
Step 2: multiply
5 −1 2 5 −1
diagonals going up!
5. 2 −3 5 2 −3
3 2 −3 3 2 Step 2: multiply
diagonals going down!
45 - 15 + 8 = 38

38 - 38 Step 3: Bottom
minus top!
=0
Definition
Let A be a square matrix.
The minor of the element aij is denoted Mij and is the determinant
of the matrix that remains after deleting row i and column j of A.
The cofactor of aij is denoted Cij and is given by
Cij = (–1)i+j Mij
Note that Cij = Mij or −Mij .

Ch03_7
 Example 2
Determine the minors and cofactors of the elements a11 and a32 of
the following matrix A.
1 0 3
A =  4 − 1 2
0 − 2 1
Solution
1 0 3
Minor of a11 : M 11 = 4 − 1 2 = − 1 2 = (−11) − (2  (−2)) = 3
0 −2 1 −2 1
Cofactor of a11 : C11 = (−1)1+1 M11 = (−1) 2 (3) = 3
1 0 3
Minor of a32 : M 32 = 4 − 1 2 = 1 3 = (1 2) − (3  4) = −10
0 −2 1 4 2
Cofactor of a32 : C32 = (−1)3+2 M 32 = (−1)5 (−10) = 10

Ch03_8