Unit 2: DETERMINANTS

Determinants
A determinant is the resulting number if we operate in a square matrix in a specific way:
a11 a12 … a1n
a21 a22 … a2 n
det A = = A ∈ℝ A ∈ M n (ℝ)
⋮ ⋱ ⋮
an1 an 2 … ann

•Order 1: det A = a11 = a11 ∈ ℝ A ∈ M 1 (ℝ)

•Order 2:
a11 a12
det A = = a11a22 − a12 a21 ∈ ℝ A ∈ M 2 (ℝ)
a21 a22

Examples: 3 −5 2 −1
1) = 3 + 10 = 13 2) = 6+0 = 6
2 1 0 3

•Order 3: Sarrus’s rule

a11 a12 a13

det A = a21 a22 a23 = a11a22 a33 + a21a32 a13 + a31a12 a23 − a31a22 a13 − a11a32 a23 − a21a12 a33 ∈ ℝ
a31 a32 a33
1

A ∈ M 3 (ℝ)
 1 3 2
Example:
−1 0 2 = 1·0·1 + (−1)·1·2 + 3·3·2 − 3·0·2 − 1·1·2 − (−1)·3·1 = 17
3 1 1

•Order n (n > 3): The minor of the element aij, αij, is the determinant of the resulting matrix
when we remove its file and column.
The cofactor of the element aij is: Aij = (-1)i+j·αij

Example:  1 3 −1
  2 3
A =  2 1 3  α12 = =4 A12 = −4
0 7 2  0 2
 
a11 a12 … a1n
Then:
a a22 … a2 n
det A = 21 = A = a11 A11 + a12 A12 + ... + a1n A1n = ai1 Ai1 + ai 2 Ai 2 + ... + ain Ain =
⋮ ⋱ ⋮
an1 an 2 … ann
= a1 j A1 j + a2 j A2 j + ... + anj Anj

Example: 3 4 −1 2
4 −1 2 3 −1 2 3 4 2 3 4 −1
2 1 2 1
= 0· 1 2 1 + 0· 2 2 1 − 1· 2 1 1 − 2· 2 1 2 =
4 −1 0 3
−1 0 3 4 0 3 4 −1 3 4 −1 0
0 0 1 −2
= −1·(9 − 4 + 16 − (8 − 3 − 24)) − 2·(0 + 2 + 32 − (−4 − 6 + 0)) = −40 − 88 = −128
Exercise: calculate:
3 0 1 −1
1 0 −1
2 7 1 2 1 0
a) = b ) 2 −1 1 = c) =
−1 1 0 1 3 2
3 4 0
−1 −1 0 1
Solutions: a) 9; b) -15; c) 6

Properties
• i) det(A) = det(At). Then, all properties applying to rows are true for columns, too.

• ii) If we exchange two rows or two columns, the sign determinant changes:
R ↔R 2
A 
i j
→ B ⇒ B = − A Consequently, if we make an odd number of changes the sign of
the determinant will change but it won’t if the number of changes is even.
Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

1 0 5 0 1 5
Example:
2 −1 −2 = − −1 2 −2
3 7 0 7 3 0

• iii) If we multiply a row or column by a number, the determinant is consequently multiplied

by that number: Ri ↔ kRi
A → B ⇒ B = k· A k ∈ℝ
Example:
3 0 5 1 0 1
6 −2 −10 = 3·2·5· 2 −1 −2 = 30·(8 − (−1)) = 270
3 8 0 1 4 0
a11 ... b1 + c1 ... a1n a11 ... b1 ... a1n a11 ... c1 ... a1n
• iv) a21 ... b2 + c2 ... a2 n a21 ... b2 ... a2 n a21 ... c2 ... a2 n
= +
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
ann ... bn + cn ... ann ann ... bn ... ann ann ... cn ... ann
Analogous for columns

• v) If A has a column or a row of zeros, the determinant is 0

• vi) If A has two equal rows or columns → |A| = 0

• vii) If two rows or columns are proportional → |A| = 0

• viii) If we add a row by a number, k·Ri , to another row, Rj, the determinant doesn’t change.

• ix) |A·B| = |A|·|B|

NOTES:

1) If all the elements in a row or column are zero except for one, the determinant is the
product of that element by its cofactor.

2) If the matrix is triangular or diagonal, the determinant is the product of the elements in its
diagonal.

3) If a row or column is a linear combination of the others (Ri = k1R1+k2R2+…)→ |A| = 0

1 3 4
2 4 5 =0
5 11 14

Examples:
a b c c a b 3a 3b 3c
1) If calculate:
p q r =7 a) r p q ; b) a + p b + q c+r
x y z z x y −x + a − y + b −z + c
3

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Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

c a b a c b a b c
a) r p q =− p r q = p q r =7
z x y x z y x y z

3a 3b 3c a b c
b) a + p b+q c+r =3 a+ p b+q c+r =
−x + a − y + b −z + c −x + a − y + b −z + c
 a b c a b c 
 
= 3· a b c + p q r =
 −x + a − y + b −z + c −x + a − y + b −z + c 
 
 a b c a b c a b c
 
= 3· p q r + p q r  = −3 p q r = −21
 −x − y −z a b c  x y z
 

1+ x 1− x
2) Solve = 12
1− x 1+ x

1+ x 1− x
= 12 ⇔ (1 + x ) − (1 − x ) = 12 ⇔ 1 + x 2 + 2 x − (1 + x 2 − 2 x) = 12 ⇔ 4 x = 12 ⇔ x = 3
2 2

1− x 1+ x
3 1 −3 2
3) Calculate
1 0 1 1
1 0 −1 1
0 1 1 7

3 1 −3 2 3 1 −3 2
1 1 1
1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
= = −1· 1 −1 1 =
1 0 −1 1 1 0 −1 1
−3 4 5
0 1 1 7 R4 − R1 −3 0 4 5
C2 + C1 ; C3 − C1
1 2 0 2 0
= −1·(−1) = −1·(−1)·2·8 = 16
= −1· 1 0 0 1 8
−3 1 8
Exercises:

1.- Calculate:

1 1 5 0 −1
3 −1 1 −1
0 −1 4 1 4
4 2 1 2
a) = b) 0 0 3 1 2 =
1 1 −1 2 4
2 0 2 2 3
−1 −1 1 1
−1 0 −1 −1 2

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

2.- Solve:
1 1 1 1
1 1 1
x −1 3 2
a) 2 =0 b) a b c =0
x 1 9 4
a2 b2 c2
x3 −1 27 8
a b 3a − b 6a + 2b
3.- If =5 calculate: =
c d 3c − d 6c + 2d
Solutions: 1) a) -36; b) -56; 2) a) x € {-1,2,3}; b) a=b, b=c, a=c; 3) 36

Inverse of a matrix by using determinants

Essential property: If A is invertible→ |A| ≠ 0

then, since we have A·A-1 = I  A· A−1 = 1 

−1   1
A· A = I ⇒   ⇒ A−1 =
−1 −1
 A· A = A · A  A

 A11 A12 ... A1n 

Let the cofactor matrix  
 A21 A22 ... A2 n 
AdjA =
 ... ... ... ... 
 
 An1 An 2 ... Ann 
Then 1
A·( AdjA)t = A I ⇒ A−1 = ( AdjA)t
A

NOTE: (AdjA)t is called adjoint or adjugate.

Example:  1 2 −1  1 2 −1
  2 −1
A = 0 1 1  → A = 0 1 1 = =3
1 0 0  1 1
  1 0 0
 0 1 −1
t
0 0 3
A =  0 1 2  =  1 1 −1
−1 1  1
3  3  −1 2 1 
 3 −1 1   
Exercises:
 −1 0 −1  1 0 −1 
 1 −1     
1.- Calculate the inverse of these matrices: a)   b)  2 2 6  c)  2 2 1 
3 0   3 5 13  0 1 2 
   
 2 −1 −1
 
2.- Find the values of k to make A invertible: A = 1 1 k 
 1 −1 2 
Calculate A-1 when k = -5
 

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Solutions:
1)  1
 3 −1 2 
 0 3 −1  
a)   b)∃A c )  −4 2 −3 
 −1 1   2 −1 2 
   
 3
 
 −1 1 2
2) k ≠ -8  
− 7 5
3
 3 3 
 2 1 
− 1
 3 3 
Matrix equations
Examples:
1) XA = B + C
1 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 0
A =  0 1 1  ; B =  1 1 2  ; C =  0 1 0 
   
0 0 1    
  2 0 1 0 1 2
 3 −2 2 
 
XA = B + C ↔ XAA−1 = ( B + C ) A−1 ↔ X = ( B + C ) A−1 =  1 1 1 
 2 −1 4 
 
 2 3  1 1
2) AXA = B A=  ;B =  
1 2  2 3
 −1 −2 
AXA = B ↔ AXAA−1 = BA−1 ↔ A−1 AX = A−1 BA−1 = A−1 BA−1 =  
1 1
 2 1  1 −1 
3) XA + XB = I 2 A=  ;B =  
 −1 3  2 3 
1  6 0
X ( A + B ) = I ↔ X ( A + B )( A + B ) = I ( A + B ) = ( A + B ) =
−1 −1 −1
 
18  −1 3 
You can find systems of matrix equations, too:

  9 −7 7 
3 A − B =  =C
  20 3 −10 

6 A + B =  9 −2 20  = D
  
  25 −3 −8 
1  2 −1 3   −3 4 2 
9 A = C + D ⇒ A = (C + D) ⇒ A =   ; B = D − 6A ⇒ B =  
9  5 0 −2   −5 −3 4 
6

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Exercise: solve:
  −4 −2 
 A + 3B =  
  3 4
a) 
2 A − B =  −1 3 
  −1 1 
  
 1 0 2 1  3 2
b) AX + B = C A= , B =  ,C =  
 −1 1   1 −3  1 −4 
1 1  2 1 1 2
c) XAB − XC = 2C A= , B =  ,C =  
3 4  1 1 1 3

 7 
solutions:  − 1 1   − 1 − 1   1 0   −2 1
a) A =  ; B =   ; b) X =   ; c) X =  
 0 1 1 1 1 1   23 3
− 
 4 2

Exam
1. 1 1 5
2 −1 4 =
3 0 9
a) 1
b) 0
c) -7
d) 2

−1 1 2 3
2.
0 1 3 2
=
1 1 −1 2
1 1 −1 4

a) 0
b) 27
c) 10
d) -11

3. −1 0 0 7 3
1 0 2 −1 0
2 3 8 −2 0 =
1 0 1 0 1
7
0 1 0 0 −1

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

a) 1
b) 0
c) -36
d) 128
1 1 1
4. Solve
1 x 1 =0
1 1 x2
a) x = ± 1
b) x = 0, x = 1
c) Φ
d) x = 0, x = -1
2x 2 y 2z
x y z x y z
3
5. If A = 3 0 2 = 5 calculate: B = 0 1 ; C = 3x + 3 3 y 3z + 2
2
1 1 1 x +1 y +1 z +1
1 1 1
a) |B|=|C|=5
b) |B|=10,|C|=5
c) |B|=|C|=10
d) |B|=10,|C|=25/2
 2 0 1
6. If A =  1 1 5  calculate A-1
 
 0 1 3
 

 2 1 1 
 3 −3 3 
 
a) A−1 =  1 −2 3 
 1 2 2
− − 
 3 3 3
 2 1 1
 3 3 3
 
 −2
−1
A = 1 3
b)  3 
 
 − 1 2 2 
 3 3 
 2 1 1
 3 − 
3 3
 
−2
A = 0
c) −1 5  8
 3 3 
 
 − 1 2 2 

 3 3 3 

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 2: “Determinants” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

d) A is a singular matrix

1 1 m
 
7. Find the values of x to make A singular: A =  m 0 −1 
 6 −1 0 
 
a) x = ±√7
b) x = 0
c) x = ±7
d) Φ

8. (PAEG- September 2014) Work out X in the following matrix equation: I3 - 2X + XA = B

a) X = (B - I)·(A - 2)-1
b) X = (A - 2I)-1·(B- I)
c) X = (B - I)·(A -2I)-1
d) X = (A - 2)-1·(B - I)

 −1 0   2 0
9. (PAEG- September 2014) Let the matrix equation  · X =  
 1 1  0 3

Work out and calculate the matix X.

 2 0
a)  
 2 3
 −2 0 
b)  
 2 3
2 1 
c)  
 2 −3 

d)
It has no solution
  1 −3 
 X − 2Y =  
  −2 −8 
10. Solve the following system of matrix equations: 
2 X − Y =  8 3 
 5 3  2 4   
  4 −1 
a) X =  10  ;Y = 
8

 − 
2 
 5 
 3  3 
9

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla”- Illescas (Toledo)

  2 4
5 1  
b) X =  ;Y =  8
 0 2   − 5 
 3 
5 1   2 4
c) X=   ;Y =  1 
 0 2   0 
 3 3 
 5 3  2 3
d)
X =  10  ;Y =  
 2   8 5 
 3  3 

Vocabulary
- Determinant: determinante

- Sarrus's rule: regla de Sarrus

- Minor: menor complementario

- Cofactor: adjunto

- Linear combination: combinación lineal

- Cofactor matrix: matriz de los adjuntos

- Adjoint or adjugate: matriz de los adjuntos traspuesta

- Matrix equations: ecuaciones matriciales

- Systems of matrix equations: sistemas de ecuaciones matriciales

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The end