ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Session 2

Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Session outline

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Computation of Determinants
2.3 Definition: A singular matrix and a non-singular matrix
2.4 Finding Determinants using Method of Cofactors
2.5 Properties of Determinants
2.6 Inverse of a Matrix
Review Questions

2.1 Introduction

In this session, we study about determinants and we concentrate on how to compute

them. Finally, we compute the inverse of a matrix using the adjoint of a matrix.

Determinants are mathematical objects that are extremely useful in the analysis and
solution of systems of linear equations. Determinants are important both in calculus and
in multilinear algebra. The determinant is a special number associated with any square
matrix. For a given square matrix of size n, where n is a nonnegative integer, there is a
unique value D which may be either real or complex (in the case when some or all
entries are complex).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session you should be able to

• compute determinants.
• perform different operations with determinants.
• find the inverse of a matrix.

2.1.1 Notation
Let A be a given square matrix of size n, where n is a nonnegative integer. The
determinant of A , denoted by det( A ) or A , is a function associated with A and has a
unique value D which may be either real or complex.

2.2 Computation of Determinants

We now need to disuses how to compute determinants. We will start with the formulae
for 2  2 and 3x3 matrices.

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

2.2.1 Definition: Determinant of a 2  2 matrix

The determinant is simply the product of the diagonal running left to right minus the
product of the diagonal running from right to left.
 a11 a12  a11 a12
If A =   then the determinant of A is given by, det( A) = = a11a 22 − a12 a 21 .
 a 21 a 22  a 21 a 22

2.2.2 Definition: Determinant of a 3  3 matrix

 a11 a12 a13 

 
If A =  a 21 a 22 a 23  then the determinant of A is given by,
a a a 
 31 32 33 

a11 a12 a13

det ( A ) = a 21 a 22 a 23
a31 a32 a33
a 22 a 23 a 21 a 23 a 21 a 22
= a11 − a12 + a13
a 32 a 33 a31 a33 a31 a32
= a11 (a 22 a33 − a 23 a32 ) − a12 ( a 21 a33 − a 23 a31 ) + a13 ( a 21 a32 − a 22 a31 ).

The determinant of a 3x3 matrix can be calculated by considering its diagonals.

The rule of Sarrus: the sum of the products of three diagonal north-west to south-east
lines of matrix elements, minus the sum of the products of three diagonal south-west to
north-east lines of elements when the copies of the first two columns of the matrix are
written beside it as below:

a11 a12 a13 a11 a12

a 21 a 22 a 23 a 21 a 22
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32
Here are a few examples.

2.2.3 Example

Compute the determinant of each of the following matrices:

 3 5 4  2 −6 2
 3 2    
(a) A =   (b) B =  − 2 − 1 8  (c ) C =  2 −8 3
 −9 5   −3
 − 11 1 7 
   1 1 

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Solution

 3 2
(a) A=   det( A) = (3)(5) − (2)( −9) = 33
 −9 5

 3 5 4
 
(b) B =  −2 −1 8 
 − 11 1 7 
 
−1 8 −2 8 −2 −1
 det( B ) = 3 −5 +4
1 7 − 11 7 − 11 1
= (3)(-1)(7) + (5)(8)(-11) + (4)(-2)(1)-(5)(-2)(7)-(3)(8)(1)-(4)(-1)(-11)
= − 467

 2 −6 2
 
(c ) C = 2 −8 3
 −3 1 
 1

det( C ) = (2)( − 8)(1) + ( − 6)(3)( − 3) + (2)(2)(1) − ( − 6)(2)(1) − (2)(3)(1) − (2)( − 8)( − 3)

=0

As we can see from this example the determinant for a matrix can be positive, negative or
zero.

2.3 Definition: A singular matrix and a non-singular matrix

Suppose A is a square matrix.

(a) If det ( A ) = 0 A is called a singular matrix.
(b) If det ( A )  0 A is called a non-singular matrix.

So, in Example 2.2.3 above, both A and B are non-singular while C is singular.
There is a simple formula for the determinant of general matrix of certain types. The
following theorem gives this formula.

2.3.1 Theorem
Suppose that A is an n  n triangular matrix with diagonal entries a11 , a22 ,......, ann . The
determinant of A is,

det ( A) = a11a 22 an n

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

This theorem will be valid regardless of whether the triangular matrix is an upper
triangular matrix or a lower triangular matrix. Also, this result is valid for diagonal
matrices also because a diagonal matrix can also be considered to be a triangular matrix.

Here are some examples.

2.3.2 Example

Compute the determinant of each of the following matrices:

 10 5 1 3
5 0 0  
  6 0 0 0 −4 9
A = 0 − 3 0 , B= , C =
 2 −1  0 0 6 4
0 0 4 
   
 0 0 0 5

Solution

Here are these determinants.

det( A ) = (5) ( − 3) (4) = − 60
det( B ) = (6) ( − 1) = − 6
det( C ) = (10) (0) (6) (5) = 0

2.4 Finding Determinants using Method of Cofactors

There are several methods for finding determinants in general. One of them is the Method
of Cofactors. Let us start by giving some definitions first.

2.4.1 Definition: Minor of element ai j

If A is a square matrix then the minor of ai j , denoted by M i j , is the determinant of

the submatrix that results from removing the i th row and j th column of A .

2.4.2 Definition: Cofactor of ai j ,

If A is a square matrix then the cofactor of ai j , denoted by C i j , is the number
( − 1) i + j M i j .

2.4.3 Example

For the following matrix compute the cofactors C12 , C24 and C32 .

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

 4 0 10 4
 
−1 2 3 9
A=
 5 − 5 −1 9
 
 3 7 1 −2 

Solution

In order to compute the cofactors, we will first need the minor associated with each
cofactor. Remember that in order to compute the minor of ai j we have to consider the
matrix formed by removing the i th row and j th column of A.

So, to compute M 12 (which is needed for C12 ) we have to compute the determinate of the
matrix we get by removing the 1 st row and 2 nd column of A. Thus,

 4 0 10 4
  −1 3 9
− 1 2 3 9
A=   M = 5 − 1 9 = 160
 5 − 5 −1 9
12

  3 1 −2
 3 7 1 −2 

It is left for you to verify the determinant computation. Now the cofactor.

C12 = ( − 1)1+ 2 M 12 = ( − 1) 3 (160) = − 160

Let us now move onto the second cofactor.

 4 0 10 4
  4 0 10
 −1 2 3 9
 M 24 = 5 − 5 − 1 = 508
 5 − 5 −1 9
  3 7 1
 3 7 1 −2 

The cofactor in this case is,

C 24 = ( −1) 2 + 4 M 24 = ( −1) 6 (508) = 508

For the final cofactor.

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

 4 0 10 4
  4 10 4
 −1 2 3 9
 M 32 = − 1 3 9 = 150
 5 − 5 −1 9
  3 1 −2
 3 7 1 −2 
C 32 = ( − 1) 3 + 2 M 32 = ( − 1) 5 (150) = − 150

How one can use cofactors to compute the determinant of any matrix is shown below.

2.4.4 Theorem

If A is an nxn matrix,
(a) choose any row, say row i, then,

det ( A) = ai 1C i 1 + ai 2 C i 2 + + ai n C i n

(b) choose any column, say column j, then,

det ( A) = a1 j C1 j + a 2 j C 2 j + + an j C n j

Here is an example illustrating the use of this theorem.

2.4.5 Example

For the following matrix, compute the determinant using the given cofactor expansions.
 4 2 1
 
A =  −2 − 6 3 
 −7 5 0 
 

(a) Expand along the first row.

(b) Expand along the third row.
(c) Expand along the second column

Solution
First, notice that according to the theorem given above, the same value must be obtained
in all three cases.

(a) Expand along the first row.

det ( A) = a11C11 + a12 C12 + a13 C13

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

-6 3 −2 3 −2 − 6
det ( A ) = (4)( + 1) + (2)( − 1) + (1)( + 1)
5 0 −7 0 −7 5
= 4( − 15) − 2(21) + (1)( − 52)
= − 154

(b) Expand along the third row.

det ( A ) = a31C 31 + a32 C 32 + a33C 33

2 1 4 1 4 2
= ( − 7)( + 1) + (5)( − 1) + (0)( + 1)
-6 3 -2 3 -2 - 6
= − 7(12) − 5(14) + (0)( − 20)
= − 154

(c) Expand along the second column.

det ( A ) = a12 C12 + a 22 C 22 + a 32 C 32

-2 3 4 1 4 1
= (2)( − 1) + ( − 6)( + 1) + (5)( − 1)
-7 0 -7 0 -2 3
= − 2(21) − 6(7) − 5(14)
= − 154

As this example has shown no matter which row or column we expand along, we will
always get the same result.

In this example, we performed a cofactor expansion to determine the value of the

determinant corresponding to a 3  3 matrix, since we could easily check the results using
the process discussed above. Let us next work an example to find the determinant of a
4x4 matrix.

2.4.6 Example

Using a cofactor expansion compute the determinant of

 5 −2 2 7
 
1 0 0 3
A=
 −3 1 5 0
 
 3 −1 − 9 4

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Solution

Obviously, taking the second row would be a good choice for the expansion since it has
two zeroes in it. Here is the expansion for this row.
−2 2 7 5 −2 2
det( A ) = (1)( − 1) 1 5 0 + (0)( + 1) M 22 + (0)( − 1) M 23 + (3)( + 1) − 3 1 5
−1 − 9 4 3 −1 − 9
 2 7 −2 7   1 5 −3 5 −3 1 
= −  ( − 1) +5  + 3 5 − ( − 2) +2 
 −9 4 −1 4   −1 −9 3 −9 3 −1 
= − ( − 71 − 5) + 3( − 20 + 24) = 76 + 12 = 88

2.5 Properties of Determinants

1. Let A be a n  n matrix and c be a scalar then, det(cA) = c n det( A) .

2. In general, det( A + B )  det( A ) + det( B ) .

3. Suppose that A, B and C are all matrices of the same size and that they differ by only a
row, say the kth row. Also, let us suppose that the kth row of C can be found by adding
the corresponding entries from the kth rows of A and B. Then,

det( A + B ) = det( A ) + det( B )

The same result will hold if we replace the word row with column above.

4. If A and B are matrices of the same size then det( AB ) = det( A ) det( B ) .

This theorem can be extended to any number of matrices of the same size.
For instance, det( ABC ) = det( A ) det( B ) det( C )

5. If A is a square matrix then, det( A) = det( AT )

2.5.1 Activity
5 6
Compute both det( A ) and det(2 A ) for A =   and check whether the result
1 4
det(cA) = c det( A) for c=2 holds.
n

2.5.2 Activity

Compute det( A ) , det( B ) and det( A + B ) for the matrices

 10 −6  1 2 
A= , B =   . and verify that det( A + B )  det( A ) + det( B ) .
 −3 −1  5 −6 

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

2.5.3 Activity

Compute det( A ) , det( B ) and det( C ) for the matrices

 4 2 −1   4 2 −1   4 2 −1 
     
A= 6 1 7  , B =  −2 −5 3  , C =  4 − 4 10 
 −1 −3 9   −1 −3 9   −1 −3 9 
   

Verify that det( A ) + det( B ) = det( C ) .

2.5.4 Activity

Compute det( A ) , det( B ) and det( AB ) for the following matrices

1 −2 3 0 1 8
   
A = 2 7 4, B = 4 −1 1  .
3 4  0 3 3 
 1 

Does the result det( A ) det( B ) = det( AB ) hold?

2.5.5 Activity
 5 3 2 
 
Compute det( A ) and det( A ) for the following matrix A =  − 1
T
−8 −6  .
 0 1 
 1
2.6 Inverse of a Matrix

First let us define the inverse of a matrix and then compute it by using the adjoint
method.

2.6.1 Definition: Inverse of a Matrix

Let A be a non- singular ( i.e. A  0 ) square matrix of size n. The inverse of A is

denoted by A −1 and is defined by
AA −1 = A −1 A = I

where I is the n  n unit matrix.

2.6.2 Theorem

If B and C are two inverses of A then B = C .

i.e. The inverse of a matrix is unique.

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Proof:

If B and C are two inverses of A ,then

( CA ) B = C ( AB )
i.e. IB = CI
Thus, B = C, so the inverse is unique.

2.6.3 Theorem

Suppose that A and B are invertible matrices of the same size. Then

a. Inverse of a product is the product of inverses in the reverse order

−1
i.e., ( AB ) = B −1 A −1 .

b. Transposition and inverse are commutative i.e.,

(A ) = ( AT ) .
T −1
−1

c. ( A −1 ) = A .
−1

Proof:

( AB ) ( B ) = A(BB ) A −1
= I  ( AB )
−1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1
a. Since A = AI A = AA =B A .

b. Taking transpose of AA −1 = A −1 A = I n
(A ) AT = AT ( A − 1 ) = I T = I ,
T T
−1

−1
i.e. ( A −1 ) is the inverse of AT (A ) = ( AT ) .
T T
−1
or

c. Taking inverse of (AA −1 ) = I ,

(AA ) = (A ) A
−1 −1 − 1 −1
= I −1 = I = AA −1 .
Thus A = ( A ) . −1 − 1

2.6.4 Minor and Cofactor of a Matrix A

Minor M i j of an element ai j of a n  n square matrix A is the determinant of the (n − 1)

square matrix of A obtained by deleting the i th row and j th column from A . Cofactor
Ai j of ai j of A is a signed minor.

i+ j
i.e., Ai j = ( − 1 ) Mij

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

2.6.5 Adjoint of a Matrix

Adjoint of a matrix is denoted by adj A is the transpose of a n  n square matrix

( A ) where the elements
ij Ai j are the cofactors of ai j of A .

T
 A11 A12 A13 ... A1 n   A11 A21 A31 ... An1 
   
A21 A22 A23 ... A2 n A12 A22 A32 ... An 2
i.e., adj A =   =  
 ...... ...... ..............   ...... ...... .............. 
   
 An1 An 2 An 3 ... Ann   A1n A2 n A3 n ... Ann 

2.6.6 Inverse from the adjoint:

adj A
Let A be a square matrix. The inverse of A is given by A −1 = .
A

2.6.7 Examples
a b
Find the inverse of the 2x2 non-singular matrix A =  
c d
Solution

T T
A A12   d −c   d −b 
Adjoint of A =  11  =  = 
 A21 A22   −b a   −c a 
det A = ad − bc
adjA 1  d −b 
But A −1 = =  
det A ad − bc  − c a 

2.6.8 Examples
2 3 4
 
Find the adjoint and inverse of the matrix A =  4 3 1 .

1 4 
 2
Solution
T
 A11 A13  A12
Adjoint of A =  A21
A22 A23


A
A32 A33 
 31
where Aij are the cofactors of the element ai j .Thus minors of ai j are

3 1 4 1
M 11 = = 10 , M 12 = = 15 .
2 4 1 4

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ADU4303 – Unit I Session 02: Determinant and Inverse of a matrix

Similarly

4 3 3 4 2 4 2 3
M 13 = = 5, M 21 = = 4, M 22 = = 4, M 23 = = 1,
1 2 2 4 1 4 1 2
3 4 2 4 2 3
M 31 = = − 9, M 32 = = 14 M 33 = = 6.
3 1 4 1 4 3

i+ j
Cofactors Aij = ( − 1) Mij

T
 10 − 15 5   10 −4 −9 
   
Adjoint of A = −4 4 −1 = −15 4 14
   
 −9 − 6   5 − 1 − 6 
 14 

A = 2 (12 − 2 ) − 3 (16 − 1) + 4 ( 8 − 3 )
= 20 − 45 + 20 = 40 − 45 = − 5

 10 −4 −9   − 10 4 9 
−1 1 1   −1 1 
A = adj A = − 15 4 14 or A = 15 −4 − 14
A − 5   5  
 5 − 1 − 6   − 5 1 6 

Review Questions

1. Evaluate determinants of each of the following matrices:

1 1  a c b
 2 −  + 1  3  
(a)   (b) 1 1  2  ,  3 = 1 but   1 
(c) c b a

 + 1    
 1
 2  1   b a c 

2. Find the inverses of each of the following matrices:

 1 1 3 1 2 3  −1 1 2  7 6 2
       
(a) 1 3 −3 (b) 1 3 4 (c) 3 −1 1 (d) − 1 2 4
       
 − 2 −4 − 4  1 4 3   − 1 3 4   3 3 8 

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