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Mat2a202 1

The document discusses the calculation of determinants using cofactor expansion for matrices of various sizes. It defines minors and cofactors, provides examples of calculating these values, and explains the determinant of triangular matrices. Additionally, it presents a theorem stating that cofactor expansion yields the same result regardless of the row or column chosen.

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12 views11 pages

Mat2a202 1

The document discusses the calculation of determinants using cofactor expansion for matrices of various sizes. It defines minors and cofactors, provides examples of calculating these values, and explains the determinant of triangular matrices. Additionally, it presents a theorem stating that cofactor expansion yields the same result regardless of the row or column chosen.

Uploaded by

mashasingas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Section 2.

1: Determinants by cofactor
expansion

University of Johannesburg: Linear Algebra A


(MAT2A20/MAT02A2)
Dr Wilmari Morton

Determinants by cofactor expansion


The determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix

a11 a12
Recall the determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix A = is
a21 a22

a11 a12
detA = |A| = = a11 a22 − a21 a12
a21 a22

Take note of the notation.

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Minors and cofactors of entries

Definition
For an n × n matrix A = [aij ] we define the minor of entry aij ,
denoted Mij , to be the determinant of the submatrix obtained by
deleting the ith row and jth column.

Definition
The cofactor of entry aij is defined by

Cij = (−1)i+j Mij

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Examples

Example
 
1 2 3
Let A = 4 5 6. Compute M11 , M12 , M32 , C11 , C12 and C32 .
7 8 0
M11 = −48, M12 = −42, M32 = −6
C11 = −48, C12 = 42, C32 = 6

Example
 
2 0 −3
Let A = −1 1 2 . Find C23 , C12 , C22 .
0 2 1
C23 = −4, C12 = 1, C22 = 2

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Signs of the cofactors

The "checkerboard" array is a convenient way to identify the


sign that goes with a minor to form the cofactor of an entry:
 
  + − +
+ −
, − + −
− +
+ − +
 
+ − + −
− + − +
 .
+ − + −
− + − +

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Determinant of a square matrix

Definition
The determinant of an n × n matrix A = [aij ] is the number
n
X
detA = aij Cij
j=1

(which is the cofactor expansion along the i th row)


and also as
n
X
detA = aij Cij
i=1

(which is the cofactor expansion along the j th column).

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Examples

Example
 
2 0 −3
Let A = −1 1 2 . Compute the determinant of A using
0 2 1
the cofactor expansion along the second row as well as the
cofactor expansion along the third column.
|A| = 0

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Theorem (Theorem 2.1.1)
If A is an n × n matrix, then regardless of which column or row
is chosen, the result of multiplying the entries of that column or
row by the corresponding cofactors and adding the products is
the same.
In essence, we can do cofactor expansion along any row or
column with the same result.

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Examples

Example
Compute the determinants of the following matrices.
 
1 2 −1
1 A = 0 −3 1 
2 1 1
|A| = −6
 
1 0 2 0
−4 0 0 1
2 B= .
2 0 −1 1
0 1 −2 0
|B| = 13
k2
 
1 k
3 C = 1 k k 2 .
1 k k2
|C| = 0

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Determinants of triangular matrices

Theorem
The determinant of a triangular matrix (upper, lower, or
diagonal) is the product of the entries on its main diagonal.
Specifically, if A = [aij ] is an n × n triangular matrix then

det A = a11 a22 · · · ann

Example
 
1 0 0 0
 7 −2 0 0
Let A =  . Find det(A).
8 9 −1 0
12 −6 7 3
|A| = 6

Determinants by cofactor expansion


Extra Exercise

Example
1 Show that the determinant of an upper triangular 3 × 3
matrix is the product of the entries on its main diagonal.
2 What is the determinant of a triangular matrix with a zero
on the main diagonal?
3 Compute the determinant of
 
0 0 0 a
0 0 b c
A= 0
.
d e f
g h i j

What can you conclude in general about the determinant


of such matrices?

Determinants by cofactor expansion

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