COEP Tech University, Pune

Department of Mathematics
Applications of determinant
Supplementary formulas for tut1

Determinants plays key role in the study of matrices. We can think of

determinant as a machine which takes a square matrix as input and return
a single number as output. Determinants are full of applications.
In this note, we will look at some formulas which helps us to calculate:
• The area of a triangle if vertices are known
• To test whether points are collinear or coplanar
• Volume of tetrahedron if vertices are known
• Finding equation of a line or plane passing through the given points.

Area of a triangle using determinant

Let (a, b), (c, d), (e, f ) be the vertices of a triangle then the absolute value
of
a b 1
1
c d 1
2 e f 1

gives us the area of triangle.

Collinearity of points
If the area of a triangle was equal to zero, then there would be no triangle,
the points would be collinear (on a line). Thus, the points (a, b), (c, d), (e, f )
are collinear iff
a b 1
c d 1 =0
e f 1

Equation of line
Three points are collinear if and only if that determinant is zero, we
can use this fact to find an equation of a line passing through two points
(a, b), (c, d). We want to describe any point on a line using an equation.
Let (x, y) be any arbitrary point on the line. Thus, we have three collinear
1
points (a, b), (c, d), (x, y). Thus, the following equation describes the equa-
tion of line.
x y 1
a b 1 =0
c d 1
Volume of Tetrahedron using determinant
Let (a1 , b1 , c1 ), (a2 , b2 , c2 ), (a3 , b3 , c3 ), (a4 , b4 , c4 ) be the vertices of a tetra-
hedron then the absolute value of
a1 b1 c1 1
1 a2 b2 c2 1
6 a3 b3 c3 1
a4 b4 c4 1
gives us the volume of tetrahedron.

Coplanarity of points
The points (a1 , b1 , c1 ), (a2 , b2 , c2 ), (a3 , b3 , c3 ), (a4 , b4 , c4 ) are coplanar iff
a1 b1 c1 1
a2 b2 c2 1
=0
a3 b3 c3 1
a4 b4 c4 1
Equation of plane
The equation of plane passing through the points (a1 , b1 , c1 ), (a2 , b2 , c2 ), (a3 , b3 , c3 )
is given by
x y z 1
a1 b1 c1 1
=0
a2 b2 c2 1
a3 b3 c3 1