Chapter 3
Determinants
3.1 The Determinants of a Matrix
3.2 Evaluation of a Determinant Using Elementary Operations
3.3 Properties of Determinants
3.5 Applications of Determinants
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 1
3.1 The Determinant of a Matrix
Every square matrix can be associated with a real number called
its determinant.
a11 a12
Definition: The determinant of the matrix A is given by
a21 a22
a11 a12
det( A) A a11a22 a21a12
a21 a22
2 3 +
Example 1: ?2(2) 1(3) = 7 A [2] A ?2
1 2
2 1
?2(2) 1(4) = 0
4 2
0 3
?0(4) 2(3) = 6
2 4 MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-2
Section 3-1
Minors and Cofactors of a Matrix
If A is a square matrix, then the minor Mij of the element aij is the
determinant of the matrix obtained by deleting the ith row and jth
column of A.
The cofactor Cij is given by Cij = (1)i+jMij.
a11 a12 a13 M a12 a13 C (1) 21 M M
A a21 a22 a23 21
a 32 a33
21 21 21
a31 a32 a33 M 22 a11 a13 C22 (1) 22 M 22 M 22
a31 a33
Sign pattern for cofactors:
33
44
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-3
Section 3-1
Theorem 3.1 Expansion by Cofactors
Let A be a square matrix of order n. Then the determinant of A is
given by
n
det( A) A aijCij ai1Ci1 ai 2Ci 2 ainCin ith row expansion
j 1
n
det( A) A aijCij a1 j C1 j a2 j C2 j anjCnj jth column expansion
i 1
For any 33 matrix:
a11 a12 a13 a11 a12 a13 a11 a12
A a21 a22 a23 a21 a22 a23 a21 a22
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32 a33 a31 a32
+ + +
A a11a22a33 a12a23a31 a13a21a32 a31a22a13 a32a23a11 a33a21a12
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-4
Section 3-1
Examples 2 & 3
Find all the minors and cofactors of A, 0 2 1
and then find the determinant of A. A 3 1 2
Sol: 4 0 1
1 2 3 2 3 1
M 11 1, M 12 5, M 13 4
0 1 4 1 4 0
C11 1 C12 5 C13 4
M 21 2, M 22 4, M 23 8, C21 2, C22 4, C23 8,
M 31 5, M 32 3, M 33 6. C31 5, C32 3, C33 6.
A a11C11 a12C12 a13C13 0(1) 2(5) 1(4) 14
a21C21 a22C22 a23C23 3(2) (1)(4) 2(8) 14
a11C11 a21C21 a31C31 0(1) 3(2) 4(5) 14
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-5
Section 3-1
Example 5
0 2 1
Find the determinant of
A 3 1 2
Sol:
4 4 1
(4) (0) (6)
0 2 1 0 2 0 2 1
3 1 2 3 1 3 1 2
4 4 1 4 4 4 4 1
+(0) +(16) +(12)
A 0 16 (12) (4) 0 6 2
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-6
Section 3-1
Example 4 1 2 3 0
1 1 0 2
A
Find the determinant of
0 2 0 3
3 4 0 2
Sol: Expansion by which row or which column?
the 3rd column: three of the entires are zeros
1 1 2 1 1 2 (1)( 2)( 2) 0(4)( 2) 1(3)(3)
C13 (1)13 0 2 3 0 2 3 3(2)( 2) 4(3)( 1) 0(1)( 2)
3 4 2 3 4 2 4 9 12 12 13
2 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 23 1 1
(0)(1) (2)(1) (3)(1)
4 2 3 2 3 4
0 (2)(4) (3)(7) 13 A a13C13 3(13) 39
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-7
Section 3-1
Triangular Matrices
The square matrix A is upper triangular, if all the entries below
the main diagonal are zero.
The square matrix A is lower triangular, if all the entries above
the main diagonal are zero.
Theorem 3.2: If A is a triangular matrix of order n, then its
determinant is the product of the entires on the main diagonal.
That is,
det( A) A a11a22a33 ann
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-8
Section 3-1
Example
2 3 1
11 1 2
0 1 2 ?2(1) 2[(1)(3) 0(2)] 6
0 3
0 0 3
1 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0
0 3 0 0 0
4 2 0 0
? 0 0 2 0 0 ?
5 6 1 0
0 0 0 4 0
1 5 3 3
0 0 0 0 2
2(2)(1)(3)
(1)(3)(2)(4)(2)
12
48
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-9
3.2 Evaluation of a Determinant
Using Elementary Operations
Which of the following two determinants is easier to evaluate?
1 2 3 1 6 3 2 4 3 2
4 6 3 2 1 4 9 3 (2)(1) 2 9 3
A
2 4 9 3 6 9 2 3 9 2
3 6 9 2 4 6 2 4 6 3
By elementary row operations 3 2 4 3 1(1) 2 4 9
3 6 2 3 6 9
1 2 3 1 1(60) 2(39) 3(10) (18) 6
0 2 9 2
B
0 0 3 1 (1)( 2)( 3)( 1) 6
0 0 0 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-10
Section 3-2
Theorem 3.3 Elementary Row Operations and Determinants
Let A and B be square matrices.
1. If B is obtained from A by interchanging two rows of A, then det(B) = det(A).
2. If B is obtained from A by adding a multiple of a row of A to another row of A,
then det(B) = det(A).
3. If B is obtained from A by multiplying a row of A by a nonzero constant c, then
det(B) = cdet(A).
Take a common factor out of a row
2 1 3 4 3 2 1
3. B
6 3
6
A 2 1. B 2 2. B 2
4 3 2 1 0 1 4 3
(2)
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-11
Section 3-2
Example 2
2 3 10
Find the determinant of A 1 2 2
Sol: 0 1 3
2 3 10 1 2 2 (2) 1 2 2
1 2 2 2 3 10 0 7 14
0 1 3 0 1 3 0 1 3
Factor 7 out of the 2nd row
1 2 2 1 2 2
70 1 2 7 0 1 2 7(1)(1)(1) 7
(1)
0 1 3 0 0 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-12
Section 3-2
Determinants and
Elementary Column Operations
Although Theorem 3.3 was stated in terms of elementary row
operations, the theorem remains valid if the word “row” is replaced
by the word “column.”
Operations performed on the column of a matrix are called
elementary column operations.
Two matrices are called column-equivalent if one can be obtained
from the other by elementary column operations.
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-13
Section 3-2
Example 3
1 2 2
Find the determinant of A
3 6 4
Sol: 5 10 3
1 2 2 1 0 2
3 6 4 3 0 4 (0)C12 (0)C22 (0)C32 0
5 10 3 5 0 3
Expansion by the
(2) second column
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-14
Section 3-2
Theorem 3.4 Conditions That Yield a Zero Determinant
If A is a square matrix and any one of the following conditions is
true, then det(A) = 0.
1. An entire row (or an entire column) consists of zeros.
2. Two rows (or columns) are equal.
3. One row (or column) is a multiple of another row (or column).
(3)
(1) 1 2 4
0 0 0 1 2 3
2 4 5 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 6 0
3 5 2 1 2 4 2 0 6
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-15
Section 3-2
Examples 4 & 5
(2)
1 4 1 1 4 1
2 1 0 ?0 9 2 0
0 18 4 0 18 4
3 5 2 3 5 4
31 5 4
2 4 1 ? 2 4 3 3(1)
4 3
3 0 6 3 0 0
(2) 3(1)(1) 3
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-16
Section 3-2
Example 6 2 0 1 3 2
2 1 3 2 1
Find the determinant of A 1 0 1 2 3
(1)
Sol: 3 1 2 4 3
2 0 1 3 2 1 1 3 2 0
2 1 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 8 1 3 2
A 1 0 1 2 3
2 2 1 1 2 3 8 1 2 3
1 0 5 6 4 (1)(1) 1 5 6 4
13 5 6 4
3 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
(3)
8 1 3 0 0 5
8 1
(1)(1) 4 4 8 1 2 8 1 2 5(1) 2 2 5(40 13)
13 5
13 5 6 13 5 6 135
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-17
3.3 Properties of Determinants
Example 1: Find A , B , and AB for the matrices
1 2 2 2 0 1
A 0 3 2 and B 0 1 2
1 0 1 3 1 2
Sol: 1 2 2 2 0 1
A0 3 2 7 and B 0 1 2 11 A B 77
1 0 1 3 1 2
1 2 2 2 0 1 8 4 1
AB 0 3 2 0 1 2 6 1 10 AB 77
1 0 1 3 1 2 5 1 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-18
Section 3-3
Theorems 3.5 & 3.6
Theorem 3.5: Determinant of a Matrix Product
If A and B are square matrices of order n, then
det(AB) = det(A) det(B)
Remark: A1 A2 A3 Ak A1 A2 A3 Ak
A B A B
Theorem 3.6: Determinant of a Scalar Multiple of a Matrix
If A is a nn matrix and c is a scalar, then the determinant of cA is
given by det(cA) = cn det(A).
Remark: [Thm. 3.3] If B is obtained from A by multiplying a row of
A by a nonzero constant c, then det(B) = cdet(A).
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-19
Section 3-3
Example 2
10 20 40
Find the determinant of the matrix A
30 0 50
Sol: 1 2 4 1 2 4 20 30 10
A 10 3 0 5 3 0 5 5
2 3 1 2 3 1
1 2 4
A 103 3 0 5 1000(5) 5000
2 3 1
6 2
A A 2
2 1 9 9
A B A B 18
3 7 2 0
B B 3 A B
0 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-20
Section 3-3
Theorems 3.7 & 3.8
Theorem 3.7: Determinant of an Invertible Matrix
A square matrix A is invertible (nonsingular) if and only if det(A) 0.
Theorem 3.8: Determinant of an Inverse Matrix
If A is invertible, then det(A1) = 1 / det(A).
Hint: A is invertible
AA1 = I AA1 I 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-21
Section 3-3
Example 3 & 4
Example 3: Which of the matrices has an inverse?
0 2 1 0 2 1
A 3 2 1 B 3 2 1
3 2 1 3 2 1
Sol: A 0 (singular) B 12 0 (nonsingul ar)
It has no inverse. It has an inverse.
1
Example 4: Find A for the matrix
Sol: 1 0 3 1 1 1
A 3 1 2 A 4 A
A 4
2 1 0
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-22
Section 3-3
Equivalent Conditions for a Nonsingular Matrix
If A is an nn matrix, then the following statements are equivalent.
1. A is invertible.
2. Ax = b has a unique solution for every n1 column vector b.
3. Ax = O has only the trivial solution.
4. A is row-equivalent to In.
5. det(A) 0.
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-23
Section 3-3
Determinant of a Transpose
Theorem 3.9: If A is a square matrix, then det(A)=det(AT).
Example 6: Show that A AT for the following matrix.
Sol: 3 1 2
A 2 0 0 A (2)(1) 21 1 2 (2)(3) 6
1 5
4 1 5
3 2 4 1 1
A 1 0 1
T AT
( 2)( 1)1 2
(2)(3) 6
2 5
2 0 5
Thus, A AT .
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-24
3.5 Applications of Determinants
If A is a square matrix, then the matrix of cofactors of A has the form
C11 C12 C1n
C C2 n
21 C22
Cn1 Cn 2 Cnn
The transpose of this matrix is called the adjoint of A and is denoted
by adj(A). C11 C21 Cn1
C C C
adj( A) 12 22 n2
C1n C2 n Cnn
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-25
Section 3-5
Example 1
1 3 2
Find the adjoint of A 0 2 1
Sol: 1 0 2
The matrix of cofactors of A:
2 1 0 1 0 2 1 3 2 1 3
0 2 1 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 2
3 2 1 2 1 3 1 0 2 1 0
0 2 1 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3
3 2 1 2 1 3 0 2 1 0 2
2 1
0 1 0 2
4 1 2 4 6 7
adj ( A) 1 0 1
6 0 3
7 1 2 2 3 2
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-26
Section 3-5
Theorem 3.10 The Inverse of a Matrix Given by Its Adjoint
1
1
If A is an nn invertible matrix, then A adj( A)
det( A)
a b d b
If A is 22 matrix A , then the adjoint of A is adj( A) .
c d c a
Form Theorem 3.10 you have
1 1 1 d b
A adj( A)
A ad bc c a
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-27
Section 3-5
Example 2
1 3 2
Use the adjoint of A
0 2 1 to find A.1
1 0 2
Sol: A (1)(2)(2) (3)(1)(1) (1)(2)(2) 3
4 6 7
adj( A) 1 0 1
2 3 2
4 6 7 43 2 7
3
adj( A) 1 0 1 13
1 1
A1 0 1
3
A 3
2 3 2 23 1 2
3
Check AA1 I ?
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-28
Section 3-5
Theorem 3.11: Cramer’s Rule
If a system of n linear equations in n variables has a coefficient
matrix with a nonzero determinant A , then the solution of the
system is given by
det( A1 ) det( A2 ) det( An )
x1 , x2 , , xn ,
det( A) det( A) det( A)
where the ith column of Ai is the column of constants in the system
of equations.
a11x1 a12 x2 a13 x3 b1 a11 a12 b1 a11 a12 a13
A3
21 1 22 2 23 3
a x a x a x b 2 x3 a21 a22 b2 a21 a22 a23
a x a x a x b A
31 1 32 2 33 3 3 a31 a32 b3 a31 a32 a33
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-29
Section 3-5
Example 4
Use Cramer’s Rule to solve the system of linear equation for x.
x 2 y 3z 1
2x z 0
3x 4 y 4 z 2
Sol: 1 2 3
A 2 0 1 10 0 (the system has an unique solution)
3 4 4
3 8
1 2 3 y , z
2 5
0 0 1
A1 2 4 4 (2)(1)(2) (4)(1)(1) 8 4
x
A 10 10 10 5
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-30
Section 3-5
Area of a Triangle
The area of a triangle whose vertices
are (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3) is
x1 y1 1
1
given by Area x2 y2 1
2
x3 y3 1
where the sign () is chosen to give a positive area.
pf: Area = 12 ( y1 y3 )( x3 x1 ) 12 ( y3 y2 )( x2 x3 ) 2 ( y1 y2 )( x2 x1 )
1
12 ( x1 y2 x2 y3 x3 y1 x1 y3 x2 y1 x3 y2 )
x1 y1 1
1
x2 y 2 1
2
x3 y3 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-31
Section 3-5
Example 5
Fine the area of the triangle whose vertices are (1, 0), (2, 2), and (4, 3).
Sol: 1 0 1 (4,3)
1 3 3
2 2 1 Area
2 2 2 (2,2)
4 3 1
(1,0)
Fine the area of the triangle whose vertices are (0, 1), (2, 2), and (4, 3).
0 1 1
1
2 2 1 0 Area 0 Three points in the xy-plane lie on the same line.
2
4 3 1 MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-32
Section 3-5
Collinear Pts & Line Equation
Test for Collinear Points in the xy-Plane
Three points (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3) are collinear if and only if
x1 y1 1
x2 y2 1 0
x3 y3 1
Two-Point Form of the Equation of a Line
An equation of the line passing through the distinct points (x1, y1)
and (x2, y2) is given by
x y 1
x1 y1 1 0 The 3rd point: (x, y)
x2 y2 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-33
Section 3-5
Example 6
Find an equation of the line passing through the points (2, 4) and (1, 3).
Sol:
x y 1
2 4 10
1 3 1
4 1 2 1 2 4
x y 1 0
3 1 1 1 1 3
x 3 y 10 0
An equation of the line is x 3y = 10.
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-34
Section 3-5
Volume of Tetrahedron
The volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices are (x1,y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3),
and (x4, y4, z4), is given by
x1 y1 z1 1
1 x2 y2 z2 1
Volume
6 x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1
where the sign () is chosen to give a positive area.
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-35
Section 3-5
Example
Find the volume of the tetrahedron whose vertices are (0,4,1), (4,0,0),
(3,5,2), and (2,2,5).
Sol:
0 4 1 1
14 0 0 1 1
(72) 12
63 5 2 1 6
2 2 5 1
Volume 12
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-36
Section 3-5
Test for Coplanar Points in Space
Test for Coplanar Points in Space
Four points (x1,y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2), (x3, y3, z3), and (x4, y4, z4) are
coplanar if and only if
x1 y1 z1 1
x2 y2 z2 1
0
x3 y3 z3 1
x4 y4 z4 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-37
Section 3-5
Three-Point Form of the Equation of a Plane
Three-Point Form of the Equation of a Plane
An equation of the plane passing through the distinct points (x1,y1, z1),
(x2, y2, z2), and (x3, y3, z3) is given by
x y z 1
x1 y1 z1 1
0
x2 y2 z2 1
x3 y3 z3 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-38
Section 3-5
Example 8
Find an equation of the plane passing through the points (0,1,0),
(1,3,2) and (2,0,1).
Sol: (1)
x y z 1 x y 1 z 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
0 0
1 3 2 1 1 2 2 1
2 0 1 1 2 1 1 1
x y 1 z
1 2 2 0 4 x 3 y 5z 3
2 1 1
MAT1041 - Chapter 3 3-39