Determinants: Concepts and Properties
Determinants: Concepts and Properties
b2 c2 b1 c1 b1 c1
Its value can be found as : D = a1 b c a2 b c + a3 b c OR
3 3 3 3 2 2
b2 c2 a2 c2 a2 b2
D = a1 b c b1 a c + c1 a b ....... and so on .
3 3 3 3 3 3
x y 1
(iv) Equation of a straight line passsing through (x1 , y1) & (x2 , y2) is 1
x y1 1 = 0
x2 y2 1
4. M INORS :
The minor of a given element of a determinant is the determinant of the elements which remain
after deleting the row & the column in which the given element stands . For example, the
b2 c2 a1 c1
minor of a1 in (Key Concept 2) is & the minor of b2 is a c .
b 3 c3 3 3
Hence a determinant of order two will have “4 minors” & a determinant of order three
will have “9 minors” .
5. COFACTOR :
If Mij represents the minor of some typical element then the cofactor is defined as :
Cij = (1)i+j . Mij ; Where i & j denotes the row & column in which the particular element lies.
Note that the value of a determinant of order three in terms of ‘Minor’ & ‘Cofactor’ can be
written as : D = a11M11 a12M12 + a13M13 OR D = a11C11 + a12C12 + a13C13 & so on .......
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6. PROPERTIES OF DETERMINANTS : [Link] For evaluation only.
P 1 : The value of a determinant remains unaltered , if the rows & columns are
a1 b1 c1 a1 a2 a3
inter changed . e.g. if D = a 2 b 2 c2 b1 b 2 b 3 = D
a3 b3 c3 c1 c2 c3
P 3 : If a determinant has any two rows (or columns) identical , then its value is
a1 b1 c1
zero . e.g. Let D = a 1 b1 c1 then it can be verified that D = 0.
a3 b3 c3
P 4 : If all the elements of any row (or column) be multiplied by the same number ,
then the determinant is multiplied by that number.
a1 b1 c1 Ka 1 Kb1 Kc1
e.g. If D = 2
a b2 c2 and D = a2 b2 c2 Then D= KD
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3
P5 : If each element of any row (or column) can be expressed as a sum of two terms
then the determinant can be expressed as the sum of two determinants . e.g.
a 1 x b1 y c1 z a1 b1 c1 x y z
a2 b2 c2 a2 b2 c2 a 2 b2 c2
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3
a1 ma2 b1 m b 2 c1 m c2
D = a2 b2 c2 . Then D= D .
a 3 n a1 b 3 n b1 c3 n c1
Note : that while applying this property ATLEAST ONE ROW (OR COLUMN)
must remain unchanged .
P 7 : If by putting x = a the value of a determinant vanishes then (x a) is a factor
of the determinant .
7. MULTIPLICATION OF TWO DETERMINANTS :
a1 b1 l1 m1 a 1 l 1 b1 l 2 a 1 m1 b1 m2
(i) x
a2 b2 l2 m2 a 2 l1 b 2 l 2 a 2 m1 b 2 m 2
Similarly two determinants of order three are multiplied.
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A1 B1 C1 For evaluation only.
a1 b1 c1
(ii) If D = a 2 b2 c2 0 then , D² = A 2 B2 C 2 where Ai , Bi , Ci are cofactors
a3 b3 c3 A 3 B3 C 3
a1 b1 c1 A1 A 2 A3 D 0 0
PROOF : Consider a2 b2 c2 × B1 B2 B3 = 0 D 0
a3 b3 c3 C1 C 2 C3 0 0 D
Note : a1A2 + b1B2 + c1C2 = 0 etc.
A1 A 2 A3 A1 A 2 A3 A1 B1 C1
3
therefore , D x B1 B2 B3 = D B1 B2 B3 = D² OR A2 B2 C2 = D²
C1 C2 C3 C1 C2 C3 CA 3 B3 C3
8. SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATION (IN TWO VARIABLES) :
(i) Consistent Equations : Definite & unique solution . [ intersecting lines ]
(ii) Inconsistent Equation : No solution . [ Parallel line ]
(iii) Dependent equation :Infinite solutions . [ Identical lines ]
Let a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 & a2 x + b 2 y + c2 = 0 then :
a1 b c
1 1 Given equations are inconsistent &
a2 b2 c2
a1 b c
1 1 Given equations are dependent
a2 b2 c2
9. CRAMER 'S RULE : [ SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS INVOLVING THREE UNKNOWNS ]
Let ,a1x + b1y + c1z = d1 ...(I) ; a2x + b2y + c2z = d2 ...(II) ; a3x + b3y + c3z = d3 ...(III)
D1 D D3
Then , x= , Y= 2 , Z= .
D D D
a1 b1 c1 d1 b1 c1 a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
Where D = a 2 b 2 c2 ; D 1 = d 2 b 2 c2 ; D2 = a 2 d2 c2 & D3 = a 2 b 2 d 2
a3 b3 c3 d3 b3 c3 a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3
NOTE :
(a) If D 0 and alteast one of D1 , D2 , D3 0 , then the given system of
equations are consistent and have unique non trivial solution .
(b) If D 0 & D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 , then the given system of equations are
consistent and have trivial solution only .
(c) If D = D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 , then the given system of equations are
consistent and have infinite solutions .
a1x b1y c1z d1
In case a 2x b2 y c2z d2 represents these parallel planes then also
a 3x b 3 y c3z d 3
D = D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 but the system is inconsistent.
(d) If D = 0 but atleast one of D1 , D2 , D3 is not zero then the equations are inconsistent and
have no solution .
10. If x , y , z are not all zero , the condition for a1x + b1y + c1z = 0 ; a2x + b2y + c2z = 0 &
a1 b1 c1
a3x + b3y + c3z = 0 to be consistent in x , y , z is that a 2 b2 c2 = 0.
a3 b3 c3
Remember that if a given system of linear equations have Only Zero Solution for all
its variables then the given equations are said to have TRIVIAL SOLUTION.
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EXERCISE I
Q 1. Without expanding the determinant prove that :
2
0 b c 0 pq pr 7 5 3i 4i
3
(a) b 0 a =0 (b) q p 0 q r = 0 (c) 5 3i 8 4 5i is real
c a 0 rp rq 0 2
4i 4 5i 9
3
a x by cz a b c 1 a a2 b c
2 2 2 2
(d) x y z = x y z (e) 1 b b ca = 0
1 1 1 y z zx xy 1 c c2 a b
x3 1 x2 x
3 2
Q 3. If y 1 y y =0 and x , y , z are all different then , prove that xyz = 1 .
z3 1 z2 z
18 40 89
Q 4. Using properties of determinants or otherwise evaluate 40 198 .
89
89 198 440
a b c 2a 2a
Q 5. Prove that 2b b c a 2b = (a + b + c)3 .
2c 2c c a b
a b c b c c a ab
Q 6. If D = c a b and D = a b b c c a then prove that D= 2 D .
b c a c a a b bc
2a a b a c
Q 7. Prove that b a 2 b b c = 4 [(a+b) (b+c) (c+a)]
c a c b 2c
1 a 2 b2 2 ab 2b
2 2
Q 8. Prove that 2 ab 1 a b 2a = (1 + a² + b²)3 .
2 2
2b 2a 1 a b
a b c c b
Q 9. Prove that ac b c a = (a + b + c) (a² + b² + c²) .
a b ba c
4 2 1
4 2
Q 12. Prove that 1 = 64( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
4 2 1
n! (n 1)! (n 2)!
D
Q 13. For a fixed positive integer n , if D = (n 1)! (n 2)! (n 3)! then show that 3 4
(n 2)! (n 3)! (n 4)! (n!)
is divisible by n .
x2 2x 3
3x 4
Q 14. Solve for x 2 x 3 3 x 4 4x 5 =0 .
3 x 5 5 x 8 10 x 17
ax c b
Q 15. If a + b + c = 0 , solve for x : c bx a =0 .
b a cx
pa qb rc a b c
Q 17. If p + q + r = 0 , prove that q c r a p b = pqr c a b .
r b pc qa b c a
a a3 a4 1
3
Q 18. If a , b , c are all different & b b b 4 1 = 0 , then prove that :
c c3 c4 1
bc a a2 1 a2 a3
Q 20. (a) Without expanding prove that ca b b 2 1 b 2 b 3 .
ab c c2 1 c2 c3
a2 b2 c2 a2 b2 c2
(b) (a 1) 2 (b 1) 2 (c 1) 2 4 a b c .
2 2 2
(a 1) (b 1) (c 1) 1 1 1
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x2 x x 1 x 2
Q 21. Without expanding a determinant at any stage, show that 2 x 2 3 x 1 3x 3 x 3 = Ax + B
x2 2x 3 2 x 1 2 x 1
where A & B are determinants of order 3 not involving x .
bc b 2 b c c2 b c
Q 22. Prove that a 2 a c c2 a c = (ab + bc + ca) 3 .
a c
a 2 a b b2 a b a b
x2 a 2 x2 b2 x 2 c2
Q 23. Solve (x a ) 3 (x b)3 (x c) 3 = 0 where a , b , c are non zero and distinct .
(x a ) 3 (x b) 3 (x c) 3
x2 2x 3
3x 4
Q 24. Solve for x : x 4 3 x 16 = 0 .
2x 9
x 8 2 x 27 3 x 64
1 1 1
a x bx c x
P
Q 25. If a 1 y 1
by
1
c y Q where Q is the product of the denominator , prove that
1 1 1
az bz c z
P = (a b) (b c) (c a) (x y) (y z) (z x)
4 5
2 r 1 2 3r 1 r 1
n
Q 26. If Dr = x
n n
y z then prove that Dr = 0 .
2 1 3 1 5n 1 r 1
a2 (s a ) 2 (s a ) 2
(s b ) 2 b2 (s b)2
Q 27. If 2 s = a + b + c then prove that 2 2 2
= 2 s3 (s a) (s b) (s c) .
(s c) (s c) c
b 2 c2
a b c2 a 2
a c a 2 b2
Q 29. Show that b a b c 2 2
c a2 2
b c a 2
b 2
= (a²b² + b²c² + c²a²)3 .
ca b 2
c
2
c b c2 a 2 a 2b2
a 1 l1 b1 m1 a 1 l 2 b1 m 2 a 1 l 3 b1 m 3
Q 32. Show that a 2 l1 b 2 m1 a 2 l 2 b 2 m2 a 2 l 3 b 2 m3 = 0 .
a 3 l1 b 3 m1 a 3 l 2 b 3 m2 a 3 l 3 b 3 m3
a 1 b1 2 a 1 b 2 2 a 1 b 3 2
2 2 2
Q 33. Prove that a 2 b1 a 2 b 2 a 2 b 3 = 2 (a1 a2) (a2 a3) (a3 a1) (b1 b2) (b2 b3) (b3 b1)
a 3 b 1 2 a 3 b 2 2 a 3 b 3 2
2
Q 34. Prove that 2 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) =0 .
( ) ( ) 2
Q 35. If ax² + 2 hxy + by² + 2 gx + 2 fy + c (l1x + m1y + n1) (l2x + m2y + n2) , then prove that
a h g
h b f = 0 .
g f c
Q 36. Prove that
1 cos 2 (A B) cos 2 (A C)
cos 2 (B A) 1 cos 2 (B C)
= 2sin2(A – B)sin2(B – C)sin2(C – A)
2 2
cos (C A) cos (C B) 1
Q 37. If ax1² + by1² + cz12 = ax22 + by22 + cz22 = ax32 + by32 + cz32 = d and
ax2x3 + by2y3 + cz2z3 = ax3x1 + by3y1 + cz3z1 = ax1x2 + by1y2 + cz1z2 = f , then prove
x1 y1 z1 1/ 2
d 2f
that x 2 y 2 z 2 = (d f) abc (a , b , c 0)
x3 y3 z3
Q 38. If (x1–x2)2 + (y1– y2)2 = a2 , (x2–x3)2 + (y2– y3)2 = b2 and (x3–x1)2 + (y3– y1)2 = c2
2
x1 y1 1
prove that 4 x 2 y 2 1 = (a + b + c) (b + c a) (c + a b) (a + b c) .
x3 y3 1
S0 S1 S2
Q 39. If Sr = + + then show that S1 S2 S3 = ( )2 ( )2 ( )2 .
r r r
S2 S3 S4
z a y a 2x a 3 0
Q 3. Solve the system of equations ; z b y b 2x b 3 0
z cy c2 x c3 0
Q 4. For what value of K do the following system of equations possess a non trivial
(i.e. not all zero) solution over the set of rationals Q ?
x + Ky + 3 z = 0 , 3 x+ K y 2 z = 0 , 2 x+ 3 y 4 z = 0 .
For that value of K , find all the solutions of the system .
Q 5. Given x = cy + bz ; y = az + cx ; z = bx + ay where x , y , z are not all zero , prove that
a² + b² + c² + 2 abc = 1 .
x y z
Q 6. Given a = ; b= ;c= where x , y , z are not all zero , prove that :
yz zx xy
1 + ab + bc + ca = 0 .
Q 7. If sin q cos q and x, y, z satisfy the equations
x cos p – y sin p + z = cos q + 1
x sin p + y cos p + z = 1 – sin q
x cos(p + q) – y sin (p + q) + z = 2
then find the value of x2 + y2 + z2.
Q 8. If A, B and C are the angles of a triangle then show that
sin 2A·x + sin C·y + sin B·z = 0
sin C·x + sin 2B·y + sin A·z = 0
sin B·x + sin A·y + sin 2C·z = 0
possess non-trivial solution.
Q 9. Investigate for what values of , the simultaneous equations x + y + z = 6 ;
x + 2 y + 3 z = 10 & x + 2 y + z = have ; (a) A unique solution .
(b) An infinite number of solutions . (c) No solution .
Q 10. For what values of p , the equations : x + y + z = 1 ; x+2y+4 z = p &
x + 4 y + 10 z = p² have a solution ? Solve them completely in each case .
Q 11. Solve the equations : K x + 2 y 2 z = 1 , 4 x + 2 K y z = 2 , 6 x + 6 y + K z = 3
considering specially the case when K = 2 .
Q 12. Solve the system of equations :
x + y + z = m , x + y + z = n and x + y + z = p
Q 13. Find all the values of t for which the system of equations ;
(t 1) x + (3 t + 1) y + 2 t z = 0
(t 1) x + (4 t 2) y + (t + 3) z = 0
2 x + (3 t + 1) y + 3 (t 1) z = 0 has non trivial solutions and in this context find the
ratios of x : y : z , when t has the smallest of these values.
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Q 14. Solve : (b + c) (y + z) ax = b c , (c + a)[Link]
(z + x) by = c a and For evaluation only.
(a + b) (x + y) cz = a b where a + b + c 0.
ap a p
Q 15. If bc + qr = ca + rp = ab + pq = 1 show that b q b q = 0 .
cr c r
EXERCISE III
Q.2 (i) Let a , b , c positive numbers . The following system of equations in x , y & z.
x2 y 2 z2 x2 y2 z2 x2 y2 z2
=1 ; = 1 ; =1 has:
a 2 b 2 c2 a2 b2 c2 a2 b2 c2
(A) no solution (B) unique solution
(C) infinitely many solutions (D) finitely many solutions
1 1 i 2 2
(ii) If ( 1) is a cube root of unity , then 1 i 1 2 1 equals :
i i 1 1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) i (D) [ IIT '95 , 1 + 1 ]
Q.3 Let a > 0, d > 0 . Find the value of determinant
1 1 1
a a (a d ) (a d ) (a 2 d )
1 1 1
(a d) (a d) (a 2 d) (a 2 d) (a 3 d) . [ IIT ’96 , 5 ]
1 1 1
(a 2 d) (a 2 d) (a 3 d) (a 3 d) (a 4 d)
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Q.4 [Link]
Find those values of c for which the equations : For evaluation only.
2 x+3y = 3
(c + 2) x + (c + 4) y = c + 6
(c + 2)² x + (c + 4)² y = (c + 6)² are consistent .
Also solve above equations for these values of c . [ REE ’96 , 6 ]
1 a a2
Q.6 The parameter, on which the value of the determinant cos( p d) x cos px cos( p d) x does
sin ( p d) x sin px sin ( p d) x
6i 3i 1
4 3i 1
Q.7 If = x + iy , then :
20 3 i
(A) x = 3 , y = 1 (B) x = 1 , y = 3 (C) x = 0 , y = 3 (D) x = 0 , y = 0
[ JEE '98 , 2 ]
Q.8
1 x x 1
(i) If f(x) = 2x x x 1 x 1 x then f(100) is equal to :
3x x 1 x x 1 x 2 x 1 x x 1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 100 (D) 100
(ii) Let a, b, c, d be real numbers in G.P. If u, v, w satisfy the system of equations,
u + 2v + 3w = 6
4u + 5v + 6w = 12
6u + 9v = 4 then show that the roots of the equation,
1 1 1 2 2 2 2
x + [(b c) + (c a) + (d b) ] x + u + v + w = 0 and
u v w
20 x2 + 10 (a d) 2 x 9 = 0 are reciprocals of each other .
[ JEE '99, 2 + 10 out of 200 ]
Q.16 The value of for which the system of equations 2x – y – z = 12, x – 2y + z = –4, x + y + z = 4
has no solution is
(A) 3 (B) –3 (C) 2 (D) –2
[JEE 2004 (Screening)]
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ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE I
3 2
Q 15. x = 0 or x = ±
2
a b 2 c2 Q19. 2 ( a2 + b2 + c2 + )
EXERCISE II
Q 1. x = 7 , y = 4
Q 2. (a) x = 2 , y = 1 , z = 1 ; consistent
13 7 35
(b) x = , y= ,z= ; consistent (c) inconsistent
3 6 6
Q 3. x = (a + b + c) , y = ab + bc + ca , z = abc
33 15
Q 4. K = , x: y: z = :1:3 Q7. 2
2 2
Q 9. (a) 3 (b) = 3, =10 (c) = 3, 10
a b c
Q 17. b c a
c a b
4 9
Q18. If –5 then x = ; y = – and z = 0 ;
7 7
4 5K 13K 9
If = 5 then x = ;y= and z = K where K R
7 7
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EXERCISE III
4 d4
Q 3.
a (a d) (a 2 d) 3 (a 3 d) 2 (a 4 d)
2
1 4
Q 4. for c = 0 , x = 3 , y = 3 ; for c = 10 , x = , y=
2 3
Q 5. k = 1 : ( 5t+1, 3t, t) ; k = 2 : (5t 1, 1 3 t, t) for t R ; no solution
Q 6. B Q 7. D Q 8. (i) A Q9. D
k
Q 11. r=2 ; x=k ; y= ; z=k where k R {0} Q 12. x = n, n I
2
1
Q 13. If = 5, system is consistent with infinite solution given by z = K, y = (3K + 4) and
2
1
x=– (5K + 2) where K R
2
1 1
If 5, system is consistent with unique solution given by x = (1 – ); x = ( + 2) and
3 3
y = 0.
Q15. B Q.16 D