CHAPTER

4 Determinants

Definition | A | = D = a11C11 + a12C12 + a13C13.

1. The determinant consisting two rows and two columns is n

a1 b1 3. In general, if | A | = D, then | A | = ∑a ij Cij and

D = a b , its value is given by: i =1
2 2 |(adj A)| = Dn – 1, where A is a matrix of order n × n.
D = a1b2 – a2b2
Properties of Determinants
2. A determinant which consists of three rows and three columns
1. The value of the determinant remains unchanged, if rows are
is called a third-order-determinant.
changed into columns and columns are changed into rows.
a11 a12 a13 e.g., |A′| = |A|
Let D = a21 a22 a23 , then its value is 2. If A = [aij]n×n, n > 1 and B be the matrix obtained from A by
a31 a32 a33 interchanging two of its rows or columns, then
D = a11a22a33 + a12a23a31+ a21a32a13 – a13a22a31 – a23a32a11
det (B) = – det (A)
– a12a21a33 3. If two rows (or columns) of a square matrix A are proportional,
then | A | = 0.
Minors and Cofactors
4. | B | = k | A |, where B is the matrix obtained from A, by
a11 a12 a13 multiplying one row (or column) of A by k.
If D = a21 a22 a23 , then the minor Mij of the element aij is the 5. | kA | = kn | A |, where A is a matrix of order n × n.
a31 a32 a33 6. If each element of a row (or column) of a determinant is
the sum of two or more terms, then the determinant can be
determinant obtained by deleting the ith row and jth column, expressed as the sum of two or more determinant, e.g.,
a22 a23
i.e. M11 = minor of a11 = a1 + a2 b c a1 b c a2 b c
a32 a33
p1 + p2 q r = p1 q r + p2 q r
The cofactor of the element aij is Cij = (– 1)i + j Mij.
u1 + u2 v w u1 v w u2 v w
Properties of Minors and Cofactors 7. If the same multiple of the elements of any row (or column) of
1. The sum of the products of elements of any row (or column) a determinant are added to the corresponding elements of any
of a determinant with the cofactors of the corresponding other row (or column), then the value of the new determinant
elements of any other row (or column) is zero, remains unchanged, e.g.,
a11 a12 a13
a11 a12 a13 a11 + ka31 a12 + ka32 a13 + ka33
i.e., if D = a21 a22 a23 , then
a21 a22 a23 = a21 a22 a23
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32 a33 a31 a32 a33
a11C31 + a12C32 + a13C33 = 0 and so on.

8. If each element of a row (or column) of a determinant is zero,
2. The sum of the product of elements of any row (or column)
then its value is zero.
of a determinant with the cofactors of the corresponding
elements of the same row (or column) is D, 9. If any two rows (or columns) of a determinant are identical,
then its value is zero.
a11 a12 a13
10. If r rows (or r columns) become identical, when a is substi-
i.e., if A = a21 a22 a23 , then tuted for x, then (x – a)r–1 is a factor of given determinant.
a31 a32 a33
Important Results on Determinants Cramer’s Rule: [Simultaneous Equations Involving
1. | AB | = | A | | B |, where A and B are square matrices of the Three Unknowns]
same order.
Let a1x + b1y + c1z = d1...(i)
2. | An | = |A |n.
a2x + b2y + c2z = d2...(ii)
3. If A, B and C are square matrices of the same order such that
ith columns (or rows) of A is the sum of ith columns (or rows) a3x + b3y + c3z = d3...(iii)
of B and C and all other columns (or rows) of A, B and C are
D1 D2 D3
identical, then | A | = | B | + | C |. = x = ,y = ,Z
D D D
4. | In | = 1, where In is identity matrix of order n.
5. | On | = 0, where On is a zero matrix of order n.
a1 b1 c1 d1 b1 c1 a1 d1 c1
6. If D(x) has a third order determinant having polynomials as its
= D a= 2 b2 c 2 ; D1 d 2 b2 c2 ; D a
2 2 d 2 c2
elements.
a3 b3 c3 d3 b3 c3 a3 d3 c3
(a) If D(a) has two rows (or columns) proportional, then (x –
a) is a factor of D(x). a1 b1 d1
(b) If D(a) has three rows (or columns) proportional, then & D3 = a2 b2 d 2
2
(x – a) is a factor of D(x). a3 b3 d3
7. A square matrix A is non-singular, if | A | ≠ 0 and singular, if | A | Note:
= 0.
1. If D ≠ 0 and atleast one of D1, D2, D3 ≠ 0, then the given
8. Determinant of a skew-symmetric matrix of odd order is zero
system of equations are consistent and have unique non trivial
and of even order is a non-zero perfect square.
solution.
9. In general, | B + C | ≠ | B | + | C |.
2. If D ≠ 0 & D1 = D2 = D3 = 0, then the given system of equations
10. Determinant of a diagonal matrix = Product of its diagonal
elements. are consistent and have trivial solution only

1 3. If D = D1 = D2 = D3 = 0, then the given system of equations

11. If A is a non-singular matrix, then | A–1 | = = | A |–1. are consistent and have infinite solution.
| A|
12. Determinant of a orthogonal matrix = 1 or – 1. Applications of Determinants in Geometry
13. Determinant of a hermitian matrix is purely real.
Let the three points in a plane be A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and
14. If A and B are non-zero matrices and AB = O, then it implies
C(x3, y3), then
| A | = 0 or |B| = 0.

System of Equation x1 y1 1
1
1. Area of DABC = x2 y2 1
Simultaneous linear equations 2
x3 y3 1

Consistent Inconsistent 1
(at least one solution) = [x (y – y ) + x2 (y3 – y1) + x3 (y1 – y2)]
(no solution) 2 1 2 3
x1 y1 1
Exactly one solution Infinite solutions
2. If the given points are collinear, then x2 y2 1 = 0.
Unique solutions x3 y3 1
Trivial Non trivial
Trivial solution 3. Let two points are A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and P(x, y) be a point
Non trivial solution
All variable on the line joining points A and B, then the equation of line is
zero is the at least one x y 1
only solution non zero given by x1 y1 1 = 0.
of this system variable satisfy
x2 y2 1
the system

10 JEE (XII) Module-1 PW