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Determinants,
Cofactor Expansion
and Applications
Engr. Gemma P. Ramos
UBLC Faculty
• A determinant of a
matrix represents a single
number.
• We obtain this value by
multiplying and adding its
elements in a special way. We
can use the determinant of a
matrix to solve a system of
simultaneous equations.
• The determinants are defined
only for square matrices. It is
denoted by det A or |A| for a
square matrix A.
Exercises
Minor and Cofactor of Element
The scalars Aij = (-1)i+j Mij are called the cofactor of the element
aij of the matrix A.

Note: The value of the determinant in equation (1) can also be

found by its minor elements or cofactors, as
a11M11 – a12M12 + a13M13 Or a11A11 + a12A12 + a13A13

Hence the det A is the sum of the elements of any row or

column multiplied by their corresponding cofactors.
 Example#1

Given:

Compute cofactors A12 and A31.

Solution. To compute A12, we first have to find the matrix M12. It is the
matrix obtained by deleting the first row and the second column of A,
=-
 Example#2
Let

Compute det(A) using cofactor expansion about the first row.

 Example#3

• Example. Find det A by expansion about (a) the first row

(b) the first column.
• Solution (a) expansion about the 1st row
• Solution (b) expansion about the 1st column
 Example#4
Evaluate the determinant
Expanding about the first column,

Solution. For cofactor expansion, we

select the row or the column with
maximal number of zeros. Expanding
about the third row, we obtain
Properties of Determinants - 1
Properties of Determinants - 2
Properties of Determinants - 3
Properties of Determinants - 4
Properties of Determinants-5
Properties of Determinants-6
 Example#5
1. Using properties of determinants, compute the determinants of the
following matrices:

A is a diagonal matrix, so det(A)=1·(−4)·(−3) = 12.

The determinant  therefore is the product of the diagonal entries.
 Example#6
• Evaluate using properties of determinants.

expansion about the second row

 Example#7
Let Suppose that we know det(A)=5 .

Solution. a) The determinant is obtained from det(A) by interchanging

two rows, so **Look at the given and compare it
with your matrix in a. Rows 1 & 2
were just interchanged. Therefore
use the 1st property .
• b. The determinant is obtained from det(A) by multiplying the
third row by 5 and therefore
**Look at row 3. Every entry is the
product of 5 and the original entry
(numbers 1,2 & 3). Therefore
consider the 3rd property.

• c. The determinant is obtained from det(A) by adding Row3 to

Row2, so
**Look at row 2. Every entry is the
sum the original entry(x,y & z) and
the 3rd row (numbers 1,2 & 3).
Therefore consider the 6th property.
Homework Problems
3