Scribd
Upload
10 views

4x4_Determinant

The document provides a detailed explanation of how to calculate the determinant of a 4x4 matrix using an example. It outlines the steps for expanding the determinant along the first row and calculating the determinants of the corresponding 3x3 submatrices. The final result of the determinant calculation for the given matrix is 48.

Uploaded by

Nishchay
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
10 views

4x4_Determinant

The document provides a detailed explanation of how to calculate the determinant of a 4x4 matrix using an example. It outlines the steps for expanding the determinant along the first row and calculating the determinants of the corresponding 3x3 submatrices. The final result of the determinant calculation for the given matrix is 48.

Uploaded by

Nishchay
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
You are on page 1/ 3

4x4 Determinant

Satyabrat Sahu
August 2024

How to Solve Determinant of 4x4 Matrix

Let’s start with an Example


 
2 1 3 4
 0 −1 2 1 
 
 3 2 0 5
−1 3 2 1

Step 1: Expand along the first row:


det(A) = 2 · det (A11 ) − 1 · det (A12 ) + 3 · det (A13 ) − 4 · det (A14 )

For A11
 
−1 2 1
A11 = 2 0 5
3 2 1
     
0 5 2 5 2 0
det (A11 ) = (−1) · det − 2 · det + 1 · det
2 1 3 1 3 2
⇒ |A11 | = (−1)[(0)(1) − (5)(2)] − 2[(2)(1) − (5)(3)] + 1[(2)(2) − (0)(3)]
⇒ |A11 | = (−1)[(−10)] − 2[(2) − (15)] + 1[(4) − (0)]
⇒ |A11 | = 10 − 2(−13) + 4
⇒ |A11 | = 10 + 26 + 4 = 40

1
Now for A12

 
0 2 1
A12 = 3 0 5
−1 2 1
     
0 5 3 5 3 0
det (A12 ) = (0) · det − 2 · det + 1 · det
2 1 −1 1 −1 2
⇒ |A12 | = (0)[(0)(1) − (5)(2)] − 2[(3)(1) − (5)(−1)] + 1[(3)(2) − (0)(−1)]
⇒ |A12 | = (0)[(−10)] − 2[(3) + (5)] + 1[(6) − (0)]
⇒ |A12 | = 0 − 2(8) + 6
⇒ |A12 | = 0 − 16 + 6 = 10

For A13
 
0 −1 1
A13 =  3 2 5 
−1 3 1
     
2 5 3 5 3 2
det (A13 ) = (0) · det − (−1) · det + 2 · det
3 1 −1 1 −1 3
⇒ |A13 | = (0)[(2)(1) − (3)(5)] − (−1)[(3)(1) − (5)(−1)] + 2[(3)(3) − (2)(−1)]
⇒ |A13 | = (0)[(2) − (15)] − (−1)[(3) + (5)] + 2[(9) − (−2)]
⇒ |A13 | = 0 − (−1)(8) + 2(11)
⇒ |A13 | = 8 + 22 = 30

Page 2
For A14
 
0 −1 2
A14 =  3 2 0 
−1 3 2
     
2 0 3 0 3 2
det (A14 ) = (0) · det − (−1) · det + 2 · det
3 2 −1 2 −1 3
⇒ |A14 | = (0)[(2)(2) − (3)(0)] − (−1)[(3)(2) − (0)(−1)] + 2[(3)(3) − (2)(−1)]
⇒ |A14 | = (0)[(4) − (0)] − (−1)[(6) − (0)] + 2[(9) − (−2)]
⇒ |A14 | = 0 − (−1)(6) + 2(11)
⇒ |A14 | = 6 + 22 = 28

Substitute the determinants of the 3×3 submatrices into the expansion


formula:

(A) = 2 · 40 − 1 · 10 + 3 · 30 − 4 · 28
det(A) = 80 – 10 + 90 – 112
det(A) = 48

From Above example you have almost gained knowledge how to


solve this one. Let’s summarize this

 
a11 a12 a13 a14
 a21 a22 a23 a24 
·
 a31

a32 a33 a34 
a41 a42 a43 a44

det(A) = a11 · det (A11 ) − a12 · det (A12 ) + a13 · det (A13 ) − a14 · det (A14 )
Where Aij denotes the submatrix by deleting f th row and f th column.

Page 3

You might also like