30

300 Determinants

60
8.1.1 Definition .
(1) Consider two equations, a1 x  b1 y  0 .....(i) and a2 x  b 2 y  0 .....(ii)

E3
Multiplying (i) by b 2 and (ii) by b 1 and subtracting, dividing by x, we get, a1 b 2  a 2 b1  0
a1 b1
The result a1 b 2  a 2 b1 is represented by
a2 b2
Which is known as determinant of order two and a1 b 2  a 2 b1 is the expansion of this

Now let us consider three homogeneous linear equations

ID
determinant. The horizontal lines are called rows and vertical lines are called columns.

a1 x  b1 y  c1 z  0 , a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2 z  0 and a 3 x  b 3 y  c 3 z  0
U
Eliminated x, y, z from above three equations we obtain
a1 (b 2 c 3  b 3 c 2 )  b1 (a 2 c 3  a 3 c 2 )  c1 (a 2 b 3  a 3 b 2 )  0 .....(iii)
YG

a1 b1 c1
The L.H.S. of (iii) is represented by a 2 b2 c2
a3 b3 c3
Its contains three rows and three columns, it is called a determinant of third order.

Note :  The number of elements in a second order is 2 2  4 and the number of elements
D

in a third order determinant is 3 2  9 .

(2) Rows and columns of a determinant : In a determinant horizontal lines counting from top
U

1 , 2nd, 3rd,….. respectively known as rows and denoted by R1 , R 2 , R 3 , ...... and vertical lines
st

counting left to right, 1st, 2nd, 3rd,….. respectively known as columns and denoted by
ST

C1 , C 2 , C 3 ,.....
(3) Shape and constituents of a determinant : Shape of every determinant is square. If a
determinant of n order then it contains n rows and n columns.
i.e., Number of constituents in determinants = n2
(4) Sign system for expansion of determinant : Sign system for order 2, order 3, order 4,…..
   
  
     
are given by ,    , , .....
     
  
   
8.1.2 Expansion of Determinants .
 Determinants 301

Unlike a matrix, determinant is not just a table of numerical data but (quite differently) a
short hand way of writing algebraic expression, whose value can be computed when the values
of terms or elements are known.
a1 b1
(1) The 4 numbers a1 , b1 , a 2 , b 2 arranged as is a determinant of second order. These
a2 b2
numbers are called elements of the determinant. The value of the determinant is defined as

60
a1 b1
 a1 b 2  a 2 b 1 .
a2 b 2
The expanded form of determinant has 2! terms.

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a1 b1 c1
(2) The 9 numbers a r , b r , c r (r  1, 2, 3) arranged as a2 b2 c2 is a determinant of third
a3 b3 c3
order. Take any row (or column); the value of the determinant is the sum of products of the

ID
elements of the row (or column) and the corresponding determinant obtained by omitting the
row and the column of the element with a proper sign, given by the rule (1)i j , where i and j are
the number of rows and the number of columns respectively of the element of the row (or the
a1 b 1 c 1
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b c2 a c2 a b2
column) chosen. Thus a 2 b 2 c 2 = a1 2  b1 2  c1 2
b3 c3 a3 c 3 a3 b 3
a3 b 3 c 3
YG

The diagonal through the left-hand top corner which contains the element a1 , b 2 , c 3 is called
the leading diagonal or principal diagonal and the terms are called the leading terms. The expanded
form of determinant has 3! terms.
Short cut method or Sarrus diagram method : To find the value of third order
determinant, following method is also useful
D

a1
U

b1 c1 b1
a1
a2 b2
a2 b2 c2
ST

b3
a3
b3 a3
c3

Taking product of R.H.S. diagonal elements positive and L.H.S. diagonal elements negative
and adding them. We get the value of determinant as
 a1 b 2 c 3  b1 c 2 a 3  c1 a 2 b 3  c1 b 2 a 3  a1 c 2 b 3  b1 a 2 c 3

Note : This method does not work for determinants of order greater than three.
8.1.3 Evaluation of Determinants .
 302 Determinants

If A is a square matrix of order 2, then its determinant can be easily found. But to evaluate
determinants of square matrices of higher orders, we should always try to introduce zeros at
maximum number of places in a particular row (column) by using the properties and then we
should expand the determinant along that row (column).
We shall be using the following notations to evaluate a determinant :
(1) R i to denote i th row.

60
(2) R i  R j to denote the interchange of i th and j th rows.

(3) R i  R i  R j to denote the addition of  times the elements of j th row to the

corresponding elements of i th row.

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(4) R i ( ) to denote the multiplication of all element of i th row by  .
Similar notations are used to denote column operations if R is replaced by C.
8.1.4 Properties of Determinants .
P-1 : The
interchanged.
a1
If D  a 2
b1
b2
c1 a1
c 2 and D'  b1
a2
b2
a3
ID
value of determinant remains unchanged, if the rows and the columns are

b 3 . Then D'  D, D and D' are transpose of each other.

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a3 b3 c3 c1 c2 c3

Note :  Since the determinant remains unchanged when rows and columns are
YG

interchanged, it is obvious that any theorem which is true for ‘rows’ must also be
true for ‘columns’.
P-2 : If any two rows (or columns) of a determinant be interchanged, the determinant is
unaltered in numerical value but is changed in sign only.
a1 b 1 c 1 a2 b 2 c 2
D

Let D  a 2 b 2 c 2 and D'  a1 b1 c1 . Then D'  D

a3 b 3 c 3 a3 b 3 c 3
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P-3 : If a determinant has two rows (or columns) identical, then its value is zero.
a1 b 1 c 1
Let D  a1 b1 c1 . Then, D = 0
ST

a2 b 2 c 2
P-4 : If all the elements of any row (or column) be multiplied by the same number, then
the value of determinant is multiplied by that number.
a1 b 1 c 1 ka1 kb1 kc1
Let D  a 2 b 2 c 2 and D   a 2 b 2 c 2 . Then D'  kD
a3 b 3 c 3 a3 b 3 c3
P-5 : 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 the determinants.
 Determinants 303

a1  x b1  y c1  z a1 b1 c1 x y z
e.g., a2 b2 c2 = a2 b2 c 2 + a2 b2 c2
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3
P-6 : The value of a determinant is not altered by adding to the elements of any row (or
column) the same multiples of the corresponding elements of any other row (or column)
a1 b 1 c 1 a1  ma 2 b1  mb 2 c1  mc 2

60
e.g., D  a 2 b 2 c 2 and D'  a2 b2 c2 . Then D'  D
a3 b 3 c 3 a 3  na1 b 3  nb1 c 3  nc1

Note :  It should be noted that while applying P-6 at least one row (or column) must

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remain unchanged.
P-7 : If all elements below leading diagonal or above leading diagonal or except leading
diagonal elements are zero then the value of the determinant equal to multiplied of all leading
diagonal elements.

e.g.,
a1 b 1 c 1

0 0 c3
a1 0 0

a3 b 3 c 3
P-8 : If a determinant
a1 0 0
0 b 2 c 2  a 2 b 2 0  0 b 2 0  a1 b 2 c 3
0 0 c3
ID
D becomes zero on putting x   , then we say that (x   ) is factor
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of determinant.
x 5 2
e.g., if D  x2 9 4 . At x  2, D  0 (because C 1 and C 2 are identical at x  2 )
YG

x3 16 8
Hence (x  2) is a factor of D.
Note :  It should be noted that while applying operations on determinants then at least
one row (or column) must remain unchanged.or, Maximum number of
D

operations = order or determinant –1

 It should be noted that if the row (or column) which is changed by multiplied a
non zero number, then the determinant will be divided by that number.
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1 n  2n
Example: 1 If n  3k and 1,  ,  2 are the cube roots of unity, then    2n 1 n has the value
n  2n 1
ST

[Pb. CET 1991; Rajasthan PET 2001; AIEEE 2003]

(a) 0 (b)  (c)  2 (d) 1
Solution: (a) Applying C1  C1  C 2  C3 , we get
1   n   2n n  2n 0 n  2n
  1   n   2n 1 n  0 1 n  0 ( 1   n   2 n  0 if n is not multiple of 3)
1   n   2n  2n 1 0  2n 1
1 x 1 1
Example: 2 1 1y 1  [Rajasthan PET 1992; Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
1 1 1z
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a) xyz 1     (b) xyz (c) 1    (d)  
 x y z x y z x y z
 304 Determinants

1 1 1
1
x x x 1 1 1
1 1 1  1 1 1 1 1 1
Solution: (a)   xyz 1  xyz 1     1 (by R1  R1  R 2  R3 )
y y y  x y z y y y
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1
z z z z z z

1 0 0

60
 1 1 1 1
 xyz 1     1 0 (by C 2  C 2  C1 and C3  C3  C1 )
 x y z y
1
0 1
z
 1 1 1 1 0  1 1 1
 xyz 1      xyz 1    

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 x y z 0 1  x y z
2 1 1
Trick : Put x  1, y  2 and z  3 , then 1 3 1  2(11)  1(3)  1(1  3)  17 .
1 1 4
 1 1 1
option (a) gives 1  2  3  1      17

Example: 3 The value of  

12
C4
C6
C8
 1 2 3
10

11
10

11

12
C5
C7
C9
11

12

13
Cm
Cm 2
C m 4
ID
is equal to zero, where m is
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(a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) None of these
10 10 11
C4 C5 Cm
YG

Solution: (c)  11
C6 11
C7 12
Cm 2 =0
12 12 13
C8 C9 C m 4

Applying C 2  C1  C 2
10
C4 10
C 4  10 C 5 11
Cm 10
C4 11
C5 11
Cm
 11
C6 11
C 6  11 C 7 12
Cm 2  0    11
C6 12
C7 12
Cm 2 = 0
D

12
C8 12
C 8  12 C 9 13
C m 4 12
C8 13
C9 13
C m 4

Clearly m  5 satisfies the above result [ C2 , C3 will be identical ]

U

log a n log a n 1 log a n  2

Example: 4 If a1 , a2 , a3 , ......., an , ...... are in G.P. then the value of the determinant log a n  3 log a n  4 log a n  5 is
log a n  6 log a n 7 log a n  8
ST

[AIEEE 2004; IIT 1993]

(a) –2 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 0
Solution: (d)  a1 , a2 , a3 , ......., an , ...... are in G.P.

 a n21  a n .a n  2  2 log an1  log an  log an2

a n2 4  a n  3 .a n  5  2 log an4  log an3  log an5

a n27  a n  6 .a n  8  2 log an7  log an6  log an8

Putting these values in the second column of the given determinant, we get
log a n log a n  log a n  2 log a n  2
1
 log a n  3 log a n  3  log a n  5 log a n  5
2
log a n  6 log a n  6  log a n  8 log a n  8
 Determinants 305

1
 (0 )  0 [C2 is the sum of two elements, first identical with C1 and second with C3 ]
2
1 1 1
Example: 5 The value of (2 x  2  x )2 (3 x  3  x )2 (5 x  5  x )2
(2 x  2  x )2 (3 x  3  x )2 (5 x  5  x )2

(a) 0 (b) 30 x (c) 30  x (d) None of these

60
Solution: (a) Applying R 2  R 2  R 3

1 1 1 1 1 1
  2 .2 x .2 .2  x 2 .3 x .2 .3  x 2 .5 x .2 .5  x 4 1 1 1  0 [ R1 and R2 are identical ]
(2 x  2  x ) 2 (3 x  3  x ) 2 (5 x  5  x ) 2 (2  2  x ) 2
x
(3  3  x ) 2
x x x 2
(5  5 )

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Trick : Putting x  0 , we get option (a) is correct
Example: 6 If x, y, z are integers in A.P. lying between 1 and 9 and x51, y41 and z31 are three digit numbers then
5 4 3
the value of x 51 y 41 z 31 is
x y z

Solution: (c)
(a) x  y  z
 x 51  100 x  50  1 ,
y 41  100 y  40  1
(b) x  y  z
ID (c) 0 (d) None of these

z 31  100 z  30  1
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5 4 3
   100 x  50  1 100 y  40  1 100 z  30  1
YG

x y z
Applying R 2  R 2  100 R 3  10 R1
5 4 3
 1 1 1  x  2y  z
x y z
 x, y, z are in A.P. ,  x  2 y  z  0 ,    0
D

0 x a x b
Example: 7 If a  b  c , the value of x which satisfies the equation x  a 0 x  c  0 is
U

x b x c 0
[EAMCET 1988; Karnataka CET 1991; MNR 1980; MP PET 1988, 99, 2001; DCE 2001]
(a) x  0 (b) x  a (c) x  b (d) x  c
ST

Solution: (a) Expanding determinant, we get,   (x  a)[(x  b)(x  c)]  (x  b)[(x  a)(x  c)]  0  2 x 3  (2 ab)x  0
 Either x  0 or x 2  ab . Since x  0 satisfies the given equation.
0 a b
Trick : On putting x  0 , we observe that the determinant becomes  x 0  a 0  c  0
b c 0
 x  0 is a root of the given equation.
sin x cos x cos x
 
Example: 8 The number of distinct real roots of cos x sin x cos x  0 in the interval   x  is
4 4
cos x cos x sin x
(a) 0 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) 3
 306 Determinants

1 cos x cos x
Solution: (c) (2 cos x  sin x ) 1 sin x cos x  0
1 cos x sin x
Applying, R 2  R 2  R1 and R3  R3  R1
1 cos x cos x
(2 cos x  sin x ) 0 sin x  cos x 0  0  (2 cos x  sin x )(sin x  cos x )2  0
sin x  cos x

60
0 0

   
 tan x  2, 1 But tan x  2 in  ,  . Hence tan x  1  x 
 4 4  4

2  3   1   3

E3
Example: 9 If p4  q 3  r 2  s  t    1 2     4 , then value of t is [IIT 1981]
  3   4 3
(a) 16 (b) 18 (c) 17 (d) 19
Solution: (b) Since it is an identity in  so satisfied by every value of  . Now put   0 in the given equation, we
have

t
0 1 3
1 2  4  12  30  18
3 4 0

1 x (x  1)
ID
U
Example: 10 If f (x )  2x x (x  1) (x  1)x , then f (100 ) is equal to [IIT 1999, MP PET 2000]
3 x (x  1) x (x  1)(x  2) (x  1)x (x  1)
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 100 (d) –100
YG

1 x (x  1)
Solution: (a) f (x )  2x x (x  1) (x  1)x
3 x (x  1) x (x  1)(x  2) (x  1)x (x  1)
Applying C 3  C 3  C 2 , we get
1 x 1
D

f (x )  2x x (x  1) 2x  0 . Hence f (100 )  0
3 x (x  1) x (x  1)(x  2) 3 x (x  1)
1 0 0 0 0
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2 2 0 0 0
Example: 11 The value of 4 4 3 0 0 is
5 5 5 4 0
ST

6 6 6 6 5

(a) 6! (b) 5! (c) 1 . 2 2 . 3 . 4 3 . 5 4 . 6 4 (d) None of these

Solution: (b) The elements in the leading diagonal are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. On one side of the leading diagonal all the
elements are zero.
 The value of the determinant
= The product of the elements in the leading diagonal = 1.2.3.4.5 = 5!
a b a  b
Example: 12 The determinant b c b   c  0 if [DCE 2000, 2001]
a  b b   c 0
(a) a, b, c are in A.P.
(b) a, b, c are in G.P. or ( x   ) is a factor of ax 2  2bx  c  0
(c) a, b, c are in H.P.
 Determinants 307

(d)  is a root of the equation

a b a  b
Solution: (b) Applying R 3  R 3  R1  R 2 , we get b c b  c 0
0 0  a  b   b   c
2

  (a 2  2b   c)(ac  b 2 )  0  a 2  2b   c  0 or b 2  ac
 x   is a root of ax 2  2bx  c  0 or a, b, c are in G.P.

60
 ( x   ) is a factor of ax 2  2bx  c  0 or a, b, c are in G.P.

8.1.5 Minors and Cofactors .

(1) Minor of an element : If we take the element of the determinant and delete (remove) the
row and column containing that element, the determinant left is called the minor of that

E3
element. It is denoted by M ij
a11 a12 a13
Consider the determinant   a 21 a 22 a 23 , then determinant of minors
a 31 a 32 a 33
M 11
M  M 21
M 31
M 12
M 22
M 32
M 13
M 23 ,
M 33
ID
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a 22 a 23 a a 23
where M 11  minor of a11  , M 12  minor of a12  21
a32 a33 a31 a33
YG

a 21 a 22
M 13  minor of a13 
a31 a32
Similarly, we can find the minors of other elements . Using this concept the value of
determinant can be
  a11 M 11  a12 M 12  a13 M 13
D

or,   a 21 M 21  a 22 M 22  a 23 M 23 or,   a 31 M 31  a 32 M 32  a 33 M 33 .

(2) Cofactor of an element : The cofactor of an element aij (i.e. the element in the ith row and
U

j th column) is defined as (1)i j times the minor of that element. It is denoted by C ij or A ij or Fij .
Cij  (1)i j M ij
ST

a11 a12 a13 C 11 C 12 C 13

If   a 21 a 22 a 23 , then determinant of cofactors is C  C 21 C 22 C 23 , where
a 31 a 32 a 33 C 31 C 32 C 33

C11  (1)11 M 11   M 11 , C12  (1)1 2 M 12   M 12 and C13  (1)1 3 M 13   M 13

Similarly, we can find the cofactors of other elements.

Note : The sum of products of the element of any row with their corresponding
cofactor is equal to the value of determinant i.e.   a11 C 11  a12 C12  a13 C13
 a11 C11  a 21 C 21  a 31 C 31
 308 Determinants

where the capital letters C 11 , C 12 , C 13 etc. denote the cofactors of a11 , a12 , a13 etc.
 In general, it should be noted
ai1 C j1  ai2 C j 2  ai3 C j3  0, if i  j or a1i C1 j  a 2i C 2 j  a 3 i C 3 j  0, if i  j
 If ' is the determinant formed by replacing the elements of a determinant
 by their corresponding cofactors, then if   0 , then C  0 , '  n 1 , where n

60
is the order of the determinant.

1 3 5 1
2 3 4 2
Example: 13 The cofactor of the element 4 in the determinant is [MP PET 1987]
8 0 1 1

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0 2 1 1
(a) 4 (b) 10 (c) –10 (d) –4
1 3 1
Solution: (b) The cofactor of element 4, in the 2nd row and 3rd column is (1) 2 3 8 0 1 =
0 2 1
{1(2)  3(8  0)  1 .16 }  10

Example: 14
a1
If   a 2
b1
b2
c1
c2
ID
and A1 , B1 , C1 denote the cofactors of a1 , b1 , c1 respectively, then the value of the
U
a3 b3 c3
A1 B1 C1
determinant A2 B2 C2 is
YG

A3 B3 C3

(a)  (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 0

a1 b1 c1 A1 B1 C1 a1 A1 0 0  0 0
Solution: (b) We know that .'  a 2 b2 c 2 . A2 B2 C2  0 a2 A2 0  0  0  3
a3 b3 c3 A3 B3 C3 0 0 a3 A3 0 0 
D

 '  2

Trick : According to property of cofactors '  n 1  2 ( Hence n  3)

U

Example: 15 If the value of a third order determinant is 11, then the value of the square of the determinant formed
by the cofactors will be
(a) 11 (b) 121 (c) 1331 (d) 14641
n 1 3 1
ST

Solution: (d) '       (11)  121 . But we have to find the value of the square of the determinant, so
2 2

required value is (121 ) 2  14641 .

8.1.6 Product of two Determinants .

Let the two determinants of third order be,
a1 b1 c1 1 1  1
D1  a2 b2 c2 and D2   2  2  2 . Let D be their product.
a3 b3 c3 3 3  3
 Determinants 309

(1) Method of multiplying (Row by row) : Take the first row of D1 and the first row of D2 i.e.
a1 , b1 , c1 and  1 ,  1 ,  1 multiplying the corresponding elements and add. The result is
a1 1  b1  1  c1 1 is the first element of first row of D.

Now similar product first row of D1 and second row of D2 gives a1 2  b1  2  c1 2 is the
second element of first row of D, and the product of first row D1 and third row of D2 gives

60
a1 3  b1  3  c1 3 is the third element of first row of D. The second row and third row of D is
obtained by multiplying second row and third row of D1 with 1st , 2nd , 3rd row of D2 , in the
above manner.

E3
Hence,
a1 b1 c1 1 1  1 a1 1  b1  1  c1 1 a1 2  b1  2  c1 2 a1 3  b1  3  c1 3
D  a2 b2 c2   2  2  2  a 2 1  b 2  1  c 2 1 a 2 2  b 2  2  c 2 2 a 2 3  b 2  3  c 2 3
a3 b3 c3 3 3  3 a 3 1  b 3  1  c 3  1 a 3 2  b 3  2  c 3  2 a 3 3  b 3  3  c 3  3

Note :
columns.
 ID
We can also multiply rows by columns or columns by rows or columns by
U
cos( A  P ) cos( A  Q) cos( A  R)
Example: 16 For all values of A, B, C and P, Q, R the value of cos( B  P ) cos( B  Q) cos( B  R) is
cos(C  P ) cos(C  Q) cos(C  R)
YG

(a) 0 (b) cos A cos B cos C (c) sin A sin B sin C (d) cos P cos Q cos R

Solution: (a) The determinant can be expanded as

cos A cos P  sin A sin P cos A cos Q  sin A sin Q cos A cos R  sin A sin R cos A sin A 0 cos P sin P 0
cos B cos P  sin B sin P cos B cos Q  sin B sin Q cos B cos R  sin B sin R  cos B sin B 0  cos Q sin Q 0  0
cos C cos P  sin C sin P cos C cos Q  sin C sin Q cos C cos R  sin C sin R
D

cos C sin C 0 cos R sin R 0

log 3 512 log 4 3 log 2 3 log 8 3

Example: 17   [Tamilnadu (Engg.) 2002]
log 3 8 log 4 9 log 3 4 log 3 4
U

(a) 7 (b) 10 (c) 13 (d) 17

log 3 512 log 4 3 log 2 3 log 8 3  log 512 log 9 log 3 log 8   log 3 log 4 log 3 log 4 
Solution: (b)           
log 4 log 4 log 3   log 2 log 3 log 8 log 3 
ST

log 3 8 log 4 9 log 3 4 log 3 4  log 3

 log 2 9 log 3 2 log 2 3   log 2 2 log 2 2  92 3   2

    
  log 2  log 2 3
 
  2
   2    10
 log 3 log 2
2
log 2 2    2  3

8.1.7 Summation of Determinants .

f (r) a l
Let  r  g(r) b m , where a, b, c, l, m and n are constants, independent of r.
h(r) c n
 310 Determinants
n

 f (r)
r 1
a l
n n
Then, 
r 1
r   g(r)
r 1
b m . Here function of r can be the elements of only one row or
n

 h(r)
r 1
c n

60
one column.

p 15 8
Example: 18 If D p  p 2 35 9 , then D1  D2  D3  D4  D5 
p3

E3
25 10
(a) 0 (b) 25 (c) 625 (d) None of these
1 15 8 2 15 8 3 15 8 4 15 8 5 15 8
Solution: (d)  D1  1 35 9 , D2  4 35 9 , D 3  9 35 9 , D 4  16 35 9 , D5  25 35 9
1 25 10 8 25 10 27 25 10 64 25 10 125 25 10

 D1  D2  D3  D4  D5 
15
55
225
75
175
125
ID
40
45
50
 15 (3125 )  75 (7375 )  40 (32500 )  46875  553125  1300000  700000
U
N n 1 5
Example: 19 The value of  U n , if U n  n 2 2 N  1 2 N  1 is
n 1 n3 3N 2 3N
YG

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) None of these

N ( N  1)
1 5
N 2 6 1 5
N ( N  1)(2 N  1) N ( N  1)
Solution: (a)  Un 
6
2N  1 2N  1 
12
4N  2 2N  1 2N  1
n 1 2 3 N ( N  1) 3 N 2 3N
 N ( N  1) 
D

  3N 2 3N
 2 
6 1 6
N ( N  1)
Applying C 3  C 3  C 2  4N  2 2N  1 4N  2 =0 [ and are
U

C1 C3
12
3 N ( N  1) 3 N 2 3 N ( N  1)
identical]
ST

8.1.8 Differentiation and Integration of Determinants.

(1) Differentiation of a determinant : (i) Let (x ) be a determinant of order two. If we write
(x ) | C1 C2 | , where C1 and C 2 denote the 1st and 2nd columns, then
' (x )  C'1 C2  C1 C2
where C' i denotes the column which contains the derivative of all the functions in the
i th
column C i .
R1 R' R
In a similar fashion, if we write (x )  , then   (x )  1  1
R2 R2 R 2
(ii) Let (x ) be a determinant of order three. If we write (x )  C1 C2 C3 , then
 Determinants 311

' (x )  C'1 C2 C3  C1 C '2 C3  C1 C2 C '3

R1 R '1 R1 R1
and similarly if we consider ( x )  R 2 , then ' (x )  R2  R '2  R2
R3 R3 R3 R '3
(iii) If only one row (or column) consists functions of x and other rows (or columns) are
constant, viz.

60
f1 (x ) f2 (x ) f3 (x )
Let (x )  b1 b2 b3 ,
c1 c2 c3

E3
n n n
f '1 (x ) f '2 (x ) f '3 (x ) f1 (x ) f2 (x ) f3 (x )
then ' (x )  b1 b2 b3 and in general  (x )  b1
n
b2 b3
c1 c2 c3 c1 c2 c3

where n is any positive integer and f n (x ) denotes the n th derivative of f (x ) .

Example: 20
x
If 1  a
a
b
x
a
b
b
x
and  2 
x b
a x
ID
are the given determinants, then
U
[MNR 1986; Kurukshetra CEE 1998; UPSEAT 2000]
d d
(a)  1  3( 2 ) 2 (b) ( 1 )  3  2 (c) ( 1 )  2( 2 ) 2 (d) 1  332 / 2
dx dx
x b b
YG

d x b
Solution: (b) 1  a x b  x 3  3 abx  ( 1 )  3(x 2  ab) and  2   x 2  ab
dx a x
a a x
d
 ( 1 )  3(x 2  ab)  3  2
dx
y y1 y2
d ny
If y  sin mx , then the value of the determinant y 3 y 5 , where y n 
D

Example: 21 y4 is
dx n
y6 y7 y8
(a) m 9 (b) m 2 (c) m 3 (d) None of these
U

y y1 y2 sin mx m cos mx  m sin mx

2

Solution: (d) y3 y4 y 5   m 3 cos mx m 4 sin mx m 5 cos mx

y6 y7 y8  m 6 sin mx  m 7 cos mx m 8 sin mx
ST

Taking  m 6 common from R 3 , R1 and R 3 becomes identical. Hence the value of determinant is zero.
f (x ) g(x ) h(x )
(2) Integration of a determinant : Let (x )  a b c , where a, b, c, l, m and n are
l m n
constants.
b b b

b
 f (x )dx  g(x )dx  h(x )dx
a a a
 
a
(x )dx  a b c
l m n
 312 Determinants

Note : 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.
1 cos x 1  cos x
 /2
Example: 22 If (x )  1  sin x
sin x
cos x 1  sin x  cos x , then
sin x 1
 (x ) dx
0
is equal to

(a) 1/4 (b) 1/2 (c) 0 (d) –1/2

60
Solution: (d) Applying C 3  C 3  C 2  C1

1 cos x 0
(x )  1  sin x cos x 0  cos x  cos x (1  sin x )   sin x cos x
sin x sin x 1

E3
 /2  /2
1  /2 1  cos 2 x 
 
1 1
 (x )dx   sin 2 xdx     (cos   cos 0)  
0 2 0 2 2  0 4 2

8.1.9 Application of Determinants in solving a system of Linear Equations.

a1 x  b 1 y  c 1 z  d 1 
Consider a system of simultaneous linear equations is given by ID a2 x  b 2 y  c 2 z  d 2 


a 3 x  b 3 y  c 3 z  d 3 

.....(i)
U
A set of values of the variables x, y, z which simultaneously satisfy these three equations
is called a solution. A system of linear equations may have a unique solution or many solutions,
YG

or no solution at all, if it has a solution (whether unique or not) the system is said to be
consistent. If it has no solution, it is called an inconsistent system.
If d 1  d 2  d 3  0 in (i) then the system of equations is said to be a homogeneous system.
Otherwise it is called a non-homogeneous system of equations.
Theorem 1 : (Cramer’s rule) The solution of the system of simultaneous linear equations
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2
D

.....(i) and .....(ii)

D1 D a b1 c b1 a1 c1
is given by x  , y  2 , where D  1 , D1  1 and D2  , provided
D D a2 b2 c2 b2 a2 c2
U

that D  0
a1 b1  a b1 
Note :  Here D  is the determinant of the coefficient matrix  1 .
ST

a2 b2  a2 b 2 
The determinant D1 is obtained by replacing first column in D by the column of the
right hand side
of the given equations. The determinant D 2 is obtained by replacing the second
column in D by the right most column in the given system of equations.
(1) Solution of system of linear equations in three variables by Cramer’s rule :
Theorem 2 : (Cramer’s Rule) The solution of the system of linear equations
a1 x  b1 y  c1 z  d 1 .....(i)
a2 x  b 2 y  c 2 z  d 2 .....(ii)
a3 x  b 3 y  c 3 z  d 3 .....(iii)
 Determinants 313

a1 b1 c1
D D2 D3
is given by x  1 , y and z  , where D  a 2 b2 c2 ,
D D D
a3 b3 c3
d1 b1 c1 a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
D1  d 2 b2 c 2 , D2  a 2 d2 c 2 , and D3  a 2 b2 d 2 , Provided that D  0
d3 b3 c3 a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3

60
Note : Here D is the determinant of the coefficient matrix. The determinant D1 is
obtained by replacing the elements in first column of D by d 1 , d 2 , d 3 . D 2 is
obtained by replacing the element in the second column of D by d 1 , d 2 , d 3 and to

E3
obtain D 3 , replace elements in the third column of D by d 1 , d 2 , d 3 .
Theorem 3 : (Cramer’s Rule) Let there be a system of n simultaneous linear equation n
unknown given by
a11 x 1  a12 x 2  ....  a1n x n  b1

 
ID
a 21 x 1  a 22 x 2  ....  a 2 n x n  b 2

a n1 x 1  a n 2 x 2  ....  a nn x n  b n
U
a11 a12  a1n
a a 22  a 2n
Let D  21 and let D j , be the determinant obtained from D after replacing
YG

 
a n1 an 2  anm
b1
b D D D
the j th column by 2 . Then, x 1  1 , x 2  2 , ....., x n  n , Provided that D  0
 D D D
D

bn
(2) Conditions for consistency
U

Case 1 : For a system of 2 simultaneous linear equations with 2 unknowns

(i) If D  0 , then the given system of equations is consistent and has a unique solution
D D
given by x  1 , y  2 .
ST

D D
(ii) If D  0 and D1  D2  0 , then the system is consistent and has infinitely many
solutions.
(iii) If D  0 and one of D1 and D 2 is non-zero, then the system is inconsistent.
Case 2 : For a system of 3 simultaneous linear equations in three unknowns
(i) If D  0 , then the given system of equations is consistent and has a unique solution
D D D
given by x  1 , y  2 and z  3
D D D
(ii) If D  0 and D1  D 2  D3  0 , then the given system of equations is consistent with
infinitely many solutions.
 314 Determinants

(iii) If D  0 and at least one of the determinants D1 , D2 , D3 is non-zero, then given of

equations is inconsistent.
(3) Algorithm for solving a system of simultaneous linear equations by Cramer’s rule
(Determinant method)
Step 1 : Obtain D, D1 , D 2 and D 3
Step 2 : Find the value of D. If D  0 , then the system of the equations is consistent has a

60
unique solution. To find the solution, obtain the values of D1 , D 2 and D 3 . The solutions is given
D1 D D
by x  , y  2 and z  3 . If D  0 go to step 3.
D D D
Step 3 : Find the values of D1 , D 2 , D 3 . If at least one of these determinants is non-zero, then

E3
the system is inconsistent. If D1  D 2  D3  0, then go to step 4
Step 4 : Take any two equations out of three given equations and shift one of the variables,
say z on the right hand side to obtain two equations in x, y. Solve these two equations by Cramer’s
rule to obtain x, y, in terms of z.
Note:  The system of ID
following homogeneous
a 2 x  b 2 y  c 2 z  0 , a 3 x  b 3 y  c 3 z  0 is always consistent.
equations a1 x  b 1 y  c 1 z  0 ,

a1 b1 c1
U
If   a 2 b2 c 2  0 , then this system has the unique solution x  y  z  0 known
a3 b3 c3
YG

as trivial solution. But if   0 , then this system has an infinite number of

solutions. Hence for non-trivial solution   0 .
Example: 23 If the system of linear equations x  2ay  az  0, x  3 by  bz  0, x  4 cy  cz  0 has a non-zero
solution, then a, b, c
[AIEEE 2003]
D

(a) Are in A.P. (b) Are in G.P. (c) Are in H.P. (d) Satisfy a  2b  3c  0
1 2a a
Solution: (c) System of linear equations has a non-zero solution, then 1 3 b b  0
U

1 4c c

1 0 a
Applying C 2  C 2  2C 3 ; 1 b b  0
ST

1 2c c
Applying R3  R3  R2 and R2  R2  R1
1 0 a
2 1 1
0 b b  a  0  b(c  b)  (b  a)(2c  b)  0 . On simplification   ;  a, b, c are in H.P.
b a c
0 2c  b c  b
Example: 24 If the system of equations x  ay  0, az  y  0 and ax  z  0 has infinite solutions, then the value of a
is
[IIT Screening 2003]
(a) –1 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) No real values
 Determinants 315

1 a 0
Solution: (a) 0 1 a  0  1  a(a) 2  0  a 3  1  a  1
a 0 1
Example: 25 If the system of equations ax  y  z  0, x  by  z  0 and x  y  cz  0 , where a, b, c  1 has a non-
1 1 1
trivial solution, then the value of   is
1a 1b 1c

60
(a) –1 (b) 0 (c) 1 (d) None of these
a 1 1
Solution: (c) As the system of the equations has a non-trivial solution 1 b 1  0
1 1 c
Applying R 2  R 2  R1 and R3  R3  R1

E3
a 1 1
1  a b 1 0 0  a(b  1)(c  1)  1(1  a)(c  1)  1(1  a)(b  1)  0
1a 0 c 1
a 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
   0  1   0    1
1a 1b 1c 1a 1b 1c 1a 1b 1c
Example: 26
is
ID
If the system of equations x  2y  3 z  1, (k  3)z  3, (2k  1)x  z  0 is inconsistent, then the value of k

[Roorkee 2000]
U
1
(a) –3 (b) (c) 0 (d) 2
2
Solution: (a) For the equations to be inconsistent D  0
YG

1 2 3 1 2 3
 D 0 0 k  3  0  k  3 and D1  3 0 0  0 , Hence system is inconsistent for k  3 .
2k  1 0 1 0 0 1

Example: 27. The equations x  y  z  6, x  2y  3 z  10, x  2y  mz  n give infinite number of values of the triplet
(x, y, z) if []
(a) m  3, n  R (b) m  3, n  10 (c) m  3, n  10 (d) None of these
D

Solution: (c) Each of the first three options contains m  3 . When m  3 , the last two equations become
x  2 y  3 z  10 and x  2 y  3 z  n .
U

Obviously, when n  10 these equations become the same. So we are left with only two independent
equations to find the values of the three unknowns.
Consequently, there will be infinite solutions.
The value of  for which the system of equations 2 x  y  z  12 , x  2y  z  4, x  y  z  4 has no
ST

Example: 28
solution is
[IIT Screening 2004]
(a) 3 (b) –3 (c) 2 (d) –2
2 1 1
Solution: (d) D  1  2 1  3   6 . For no solution the necessary condition is 3  6  0    2 . It can be see
1 1 
that for   2 , there is no solution for the given system of equations.

8.1.10 Application of Determinants in Co-ordinate Geometry.

(1) Area of triangle whose vertices are (x r , y r ); r  1, 2, 3 is
 316 Determinants

x1 y1 1
1 1
  [x 1 (y 2  y 3 )  x 2 (y 3  y 1 )  x 3 (y 1  y 2 )]  x 2 y2 1
2 2
x3 y3 1
(2) If ar x  b r y  c r  0, (r  1, 2, 3) are the sides of a triangle, then the area of the triangle is
given by

60
2
a1 b1 c1
1
 a2 b2 c2 , where C1  a 2 b 3  a 3 b 2 , C 2  a 3 b1  a1 b 3 , C 3  a1 b 2  a 2 b1 are the
2 C1 C 2 C 3
a3 b3 c3
a1 b1 c1

E3
cofactors of the elements c1 , c 2 , c 3 respectively in the determinant a2 b2 c2 .
a3 b3 c3
(3) The equation of a straight line passing through two points ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) is
x y 1
x1
x2
y1
y2
1 0
1
ID a1 b1 c1
U
(4) If three lines ar x  b r y  c r  0 ; (r  1, 2, 3) are concurrent if a 2 b2 c2  0
a3 b3 c3
YG

(5) If ax 2  2hxy  by 2  2 gx  2 fy  c  0 represents a pair of straight lines then

a h g
abc  2 fgh  af  bg  ch  0  h b f
2 2 2

g f c
D

(6) The equation of circle through three non-collinear points A(x 1 , y 1 ), B(x 2 , y 2 ), C(x 3 , y 3 ) is

x2  y2 x y 1
x 12  y 12
U

x1 y1 1
0
x 22  y 22 x2 y2 1
x 32  y 32 x3 y3 1
ST

Example: 29 The three lines ax  by  c  0, bx  cy  a  0, cx  ay  b  0 are concurrent only when

(a) a  b  c  0 (b) a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ca
(c) a 3  b 3  c 3  ab  bc  ca (d) None of these
a b c
Solution: (a, b)Three lines are concurrent if b c a  0 or, 3 abc  a 3  b 3  c 3  0  a 3  b 3  c 3  3 abc
c a b

Also, a 3  b 3  c 3  3 abc  0  (a  b  c)(a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ca)  0

 (a  b  c)  0 or a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ca .

8.1.11 Some Special Determinants.

 Determinants 317

(1) Symmetric determinant : A determinant is called symmetric determinant if for its every
a h g
element aij  a ji  i, j e.g., h b f
g f c
(2) Skew-symmetric determinant : A determinant is called skew symmetric determinant if for
0 3 1

60
its every element aij   a ji  i, j e.g.,  3 0 5
1 5 0

Note :  Every diagonal element of a skew symmetric determinant is always zero.

E3
 The value of a skew symmetric determinant of even order is always a perfect square
and that of odd order is always zero.
0 c b
For example (i)  c 0 a  c(0  ab)  b(ac  0)  abc  abc  0

(ii)
b a 0

0 a
ID
 0  a 2  a 2 (Perfect square)
0
(iii) b  a
ab e  f
0 lm  0
a 0
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f e m l 0
(3) Cyclic order : If elements of the rows (or columns) are in cyclic order.
YG

1 a a2
i.e. (i) 1 b b 2  (a  b )(b  c)(c  a)
1 c c2
a b c 1 1 1
(ii) 2
a b 2
c  a2
2
b2 c 2  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)(ab  bc  ca)
D

bc ca ab a3 b3 c3
a bc abc a a2 a3
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(iii) b ca abc  b b 2 b 3  abc(a  b)(b  c)(c  a)

c ab abc c c2 c3
ST

1 1 1 a b c
(iv) a b c  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)(a  b  c) (v) b c a  (a 3  b 3  c 3  3 abc)
a3 b3 c3 c a b

Note :  These results direct applicable in lengthy questions (As behavior of standard
results)
0 i  100 i  500
Example: 30   100  i 0 1000  i is equal to
500  i i  1000 0
(a) 100 (b) 500 (c) 1000 (d) 0
Solution: (d) This determinant of skew symmetric of odd order, hence is equal to 0.
 318 Determinants

1 a a2
Example: 31 1 b b2  [Pb. CET 1997; DCE 2002]
1 c c2
(a) a 2  b 2  c 2 (b) (a  b)(b  c)(c  a) (c) (a  b)(b  c)(c  a) (d) None of these
1 a a2
Solution: (c)   1 b b2

60
1 c c2
Applying R1  R1  R 2 & R 2  R 2  R3
0 a  b a2  b 2 0 1 ab
 0 b  c b 2  c 2  (a  b)(b  c) 0 1 b  c ;

E3
1 c c2 1 c c2
Applying R1  R1  R 2
0 0 (a  c) 0 0 1
 (a  b)(b  c) 0 1 b  c  (a  b)(b  c)(a  c) 0 1 b  c  (a  b)(b  c)(a  c)(1)  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)
1 c c2 1 c c2

Example: 32 If
1
a
a3
1
1
b
b3
1

c3
1 1
ID
c  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)(a  b  c) Where a, b, c are all different, then the determinant
U
(x  a) 2 (x  b) 2 ( x  c) 2 vanishes when
(x  b )(x  c) (x  c)(x  a) (x  a)(x  b)
1 1
(a) a  b  c  0 (b) x  (a  b  c) (c) x  (a  b  c) (d) x  a  b  c
YG

3 2
1 1 1
Solution: (b)  a b c  (a  b)(b  c)(c  a)(a  b  c) …… (i)
a3 b3 c3
1 1 1
Now, (x  a) 2
(x  b) 2
( x  c) 2 0
D

(x  b )(x  c) (x  c)(x  a) (x  a)(x  b)

(x  a) (x  b) ( x  c)
1
U

 (x  a) 3
(x  b) 3
( x  c) 3 0
(x  a)(x  b )(x  c)
(x  a)(x  b)(x  c) (x  a)(x  b)(x  c) (x  a)(x  b )(x  c)
Applying C1  C1 (x  a), C 2  C 2 (x  b), C 3  C 3 (x  c)
ST

(x  a) (x  b) ( x  c)
(x  a)3 (x  b)3 (x  c)3  0
1 1 1
[(x  a)  (x  b)][(x  b)  (x  c)][(x  c)  (x  a)](x  a  x  b  x  c)  0
1
(b  a)(c  b)(a  c)[3 x  (a  b  c)]  0 or x  (a  b  c) [ a  b  c]
3
  
Example: 33 If  ,  and  are the roots of the equations x 3  px  q  0 then value of the determinant    is
  
[AMU 1990]
(a) p (b) q (c) p 2  2q (d) 0
Solution: (d) Since ,  ,  are the roots of x  px  q  0 ,        0
3
 Determinants 319

  
   
  
            0 0 0
Applying R1  R1  R 2  R 3 , We get,    =    0
     

60
x 1 x2  2 x (x  1)
Example: 34 If   x (x  1) x  1 x (x 2  2)  p 0 x 6  p 1 x 5  p 2 x 4  p 3 x 3  p 4 x 2  p 5 x  p 6 ,then (p 5 , p 6 ) 
x  2 x (x  1)
2
x 1
(a) (–3, –9) (b) (–5, –9) (c) (–3, –5) (d) (3, –9)

E3
1 2 0
Solution: (b) Putting x  0 in both sides, we get, 0 1 0  p 6  p 6  9 by expansion.
2 0 1
p 5 is the coefficient of x or constant term in the differentiation of determinant.
Differentiate both sides,
1 2x
x (x  1) x  1
x 2  2 x (x  1)
2x  1
2

x 1
x 1
x (x  2)  2 x  1 1
ID
x 2  2 x (x  1) x 1 x 2  2 x (x  1)
3 x  2  x (x  1) x  1 x (x 2  2)
2

x 2  2 x (x  1) x  1 2x 2x  1 1

 6 p 0 x 5  5 p1 x 4  4 p 2 x 3  3 p 3 x 2  2 p 4 x  p 5
U
Putting x  0 both sides, we get p 5  5 ;  (p 5 , p 6 )  (5, 9) .
YG

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D
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ST