Chapter 4 Determinants

Determinant

Every square matrix A is associated with a number, called its determinant and it is denoted by det
(A) or |A| .

Only square matrices have determinants. The matrices which are not square do not have
determinants

(i) First Order Determinant

If A = [a], then det (A) = |A| = a

(ii) Second Order Determinant

Second Order Determinant

|A| = a11a22 – a21a12

(iii) Third Order Determinant

Third Order Determinant

Evaluation of Determinant of Square Matrix of Order 3 by Sarrus Rule

Evaluation of Determinant of Square Matrix of Order 3 by Sarrus Rule

then determinant can be formed by enlarging the matrix by adjoining the first two columns on the
right and draw lines as show below parallel and perpendicular to the diagonal.

Evaluation of Determinant of Square Matrix of Order 3 by Sarrus Rule

The value of the determinant, thus will be the sum of the product of element. in line parallel to the
diagonal minus the sum of the product of elements in line perpendicular to the line segment. Thus,

Δ = a11a22a33 + a12a23a31 + a13a21a32 – a13a22a31 – a11a23a32 – a12a21a33.

Note This method doesn’t work for determinants of order greater than 3.
Properties of Determinants

(i) The value of the determinant remains unchanged, if rows are changed into columns and columns
are changed into rows e.g., |A’| = |A|

(ii) If A = [aij]n x n , n > 1 and B be the matrix obtained from A by interchanging two of its rows or
columns, then

det (B) = – det (A)

(iii) If two rows (or columns) of a square matrix A are proportional, then |A| = O.

(iv) |B| = k |A| ,where B is the matrix obtained from A, by multiplying one row (or column) of A by k.

(v) |kA| = kn|A|, where A is a matrix of order n x n.

(vi) If each element of a row (or column) of a determinant is the sum of two or more terms, then the
determinant can be expressed as the sum of two or more determinants, e.g.,

Properties of Determinants

(vii) If the same multiple of the elements of any row (or column) of a determinant are added to the
corresponding elements of any other row (or column), then the value of the new determinant
remains unchanged, e.g.,

Properties of Determinants

(viii) If each element of a row (or column) of a determinant is zero, then its value is zero.

(ix) If any two rows (columns) of a determinant are identical, then its value is zero.

(x) If each element of row (column) of a determinant is expressed as a sum of two or more terms,
then the determinant can be expressed as the sum of two or more determinants.

Important Results on Determinants

(i) |AB| = |A||B| , where A and B are square matrices of the same order.

(ii) |An| = |A|n

(iii) If A, B and C are square matrices of the same order such that ith column (or row) of A is the sum
of i th columns (or rows) of B and C and all other columns (or rows) of A, Band C are identical, then |
A| =|B| + |C|

(iv) |In| = 1,where In is identity matrix of order n

(v) |On| = 0, where On is a zero matrix of order n

(a) If Δ(a) has 2 rows (or columns) proportional, then (x – a) is a factor of Δ(x).

(b) If Δ(a) has 3 rows (or columns) proportional, then (x – a)2 is a factor of Δ(x). ,

(vii) A square matrix A is non-singular, if |A| ≠ 0 and singular, if |A| =0.

(viii) Determinant of a skew-symmetric matrix of odd order is zero and of even order is a nonzero
perfect square.

(ix) In general, |B + C| ≠ |B| + |C|

(x) Determinant of a diagonal matrix = Product of its diagonal elements

(xi) Determinant of a triangular matrix = Product of its diagonal elements

(xii) A square matrix of order n, is non-singular, if its rank r = n i.e., if |A| ≠ 0, then rank (A) = n

Important Results on Determinants

Important Results on Determinants

Important Results on Determinants

(xiv) If A is a non-singular matrix, then |A-1| = 1 / |A| = |A|-1

(xv) Determinant of a orthogonal matrix = 1 or – 1.

(xvi) Determinant of a hermitian matrix is purely real .

(xvii) If A and B are non-zero matrices and AB = 0, then it implies |A| = 0 and |B| = 0.

Minors and Cofactors

Minors and Cofactors

then the minor Mij of the element aij is the determinant obtained by deleting the i row and jth
column.

Minors and Cofactors

The cofactor of the element aij is Cij = (- 1)i + j Mij

Adjoint of a matrix is the transpose of the matrix of cofactors of the give matrix, i.e.,

Adjoint of a Matrix

Properties of Minors and Cofactors

(i) The sum of the products of elements of .any row (or column) of a determinant with the cofactors
of the corresponding elements of any other row (or column) is zero, i.e., if

Properties of Minors and Cofactors

then a11C31 + a12C32 + a13C33 = 0 ans so on.

(ii) The sum of the product of elements of any row (or column) of a determinant with the cofactors
of the corresponding elements of the same row (or column) is Δ

Properties of Minors and Cofactors

Properties of Minors and Cofactors

Differentiation of Determinant

Differentiation of Determinant

Integration of Determinant

Integration of Determinant

If the elements of more than one column or rows are functions of x, then the integration can be

done only after evaluation/expansion of the determinant.

Solution of Linear equations by Determinant/Cramer’s Rule

Case 1.

The solution of the system of simultaneous linear equations

a1x + b1y = C1 …(i)

is given by x = D1 / D, Y = D2 / D

Solution of Linear equations by Determinant/Cramer’s Rule

(i) If D ≠ 0, then the given system of equations is consistent and has a unique solution given by x = D1
/ D, y = D2 / D

(ii) If D = 0 and Dl = D2 = 0, then the system is consistent and has infinitely many solutions.

(iii) If D = 0 and one of Dl and D2 is non-zero, then the system is inconsistent.

Case II.

Let the system of equations be

a1x + b1y + C1z = d1

a2x + b2y + C2z = d2

a3x + b3y + C3z = d3

Then, the solution of the system of equation is x = D1 / D, Y = D2 / D, Z = D3 / D, it is called Cramer’s

Solution of Linear equations by Determinant/Cramer’s Rule

(i) If D ≠ 0, then the system of equations is consistent with unique solution.

(ii) If D = 0 and atleast one of the determinant D1, D2, D3 is non-zero, then the given system is
inconsistent, i.e., having no solution.

(iii) If D = 0 and D1 = D2 = D3 = 0, then the system is consistent, with infinitely many solutions.

(iv) If D ≠ 0 and D1 = D2 = D3 = 0, then system has only trivial solution, (x = y = z = 0).

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem

Every matrix satisfies its characteristic equation, i.e., if A be a square matrix, then |A – xl| = 0 is the
characteristics equation of A. The values of x are called eigenvalues of A.

i.e., if x3 – 4x2 – 5x – 7 = 0 is characteristic equation for A, then A3 – 4A2 + 5A – 7I = 0

Properties of Characteristic Equation

(ii) The product of the eigenvalues of A is equal to its determinant.

(iii) The eigenvalues of an orthogonal matrix are of unit modulus.

(iv) The feigen values of a unitary matrix are of unit modulus.

(v) A and A’ have same eigenvalues.

(vi) The eigenvalues of a skew-hermitian matrix are either purely imaginary or zero.

(vii) If x is an eigenvalue of A, then x is the eigenvalue of A* .

(viii) The eigenvalues of a triangular matrix are its diagonal elements.

(ix) If x is the eigenvalue of A and |A| ≠ 0, then (1 / x) is the eigenvalue of A-1.

(x) If x is the eigenvalue of A and |A| ≠ 0, then |A| / x is the eigenvalue of adj (A).

(xi) If x1, x2,x3, … ,xn are eigenvalues of A, then the eigenvalues of A2 are x2 2, x2 2,…, xn 2.

Cyclic Determinants

Cyclic Determinants

Cyclic Determinants

Applications of Determinant in Geometry

Let three points in a plane be A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and C(x3, y3), then

Applications of Determinant in Geometry

= 1 / 2 [x1 (y2 – y3) + x2 (y3 – y1) + x3 (y1 – y2)]

Applications of Determinant in Geometry

Maximum and Minimum Value of Determinants

Maximum and Minimum Value of Determinants

where ais ∈ [α1, α2,…, αn]

Then, |A|max when diagonal elements are

and non-diagonal elements are

{ max (α1, α2,…, αn)}

Also, |A|min = – |A|max