Determinant of a Matrix
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The determinant is a special number that can be calculated from a matrix .
The matrix has to be square (same number of rows and columns) like this one:
3 8
4 6
A Matrix
(This one has 2 Rows and 2 Columns)
Let us calculate the determinant of that matrix:
3×6 − 8×4
= 18 − 32
= −14
Easy, hey? Here is another example:
Example:
1 2
B= 3 4
The symbol for determinant is two vertical lines either side like this:
|B| = 1×4 − 2×3
=4−6
= −2
(Note: it is the same symbol as absolute value .)
What is it for?
The determinant helps us find the inverse of a matrix , tells us things about the
matrix that are useful in systems of linear equations , calculus and more.
Calculating the Determinant
First of all the matrix must be square (i.e. have the same number of rows as
columns). Then it is just arithmetic.
For a 2×2 Matrix
For a 2×2 matrix (2 rows and 2 columns):
a b
A= c d
The determinant is:
|A| = ad − bc
"The determinant of A equals a times d minus b times c"
It is easy to remember when you think of a cross:
a b
Blue is positive (+ad),
c d
Red is negative (−bc)
Example: find the determinant of
4 6
C= 3 8
Answer:
|C| = 4×8 − 6×3
= 32 − 18
= 14
For a 3×3 Matrix
For a 3×3 matrix (3 rows and 3 columns):
a b c
A= d e f
g h i
The determinant is:
|A| = a(ei − fh) − b(di − fg) + c(dh − eg)
"The determinant of A equals ... etc"
It may look complicated, but there is a pattern:
ax b xc
x
e f − d f + d e
h i g i g h
To work out the determinant of a 3×3 matrix:
Multiply a by the determinant of the 2×2 matrix that is not in a's row or column.
Likewise for b, and for c
Sum them up, but remember the minus in front of the b
As a formula (remember the vertical bars || mean "determinant of"):
"The determinant of A equals a times the determinant of ... etc"
Example:
6 1 1
D= 4 −2 5
2 8 7
|D| = 6×(−2×7 − 5×8) − 1×(4×7 − 5×2) + 1×(4×8 − (−2×2))
= 6×(−54) − 1×(18) + 1×(36)
= −306
For 4×4 Matrices and Higher
The pattern continues for 4×4 matrices:
plus a times the determinant of the matrix that is not in a's row or column,
minus b times the determinant of the matrix that is not in b's row or column,
plus c times the determinant of the matrix that is not in c's row or column,
minus d times the determinant of the matrix that is not in d's row or column,
a b c d
x x x x
f g h − e g h + e f h − e f g
j k l i k l i j l i j k
n o p m o p m n p m n o
As a formula:
Notice the +−+− pattern ( + a... − b... + c... − d...). This is important to
remember.
The pattern continues for 5×5 matrices and higher. Usually best to use a
Matrix Calculator for those!
Not The Only Way
This method of calculation is called the "Laplace expansion" and I like it because the
pattern is easy to remember. But there are other methods (just so you know).
Summary
For a 2×2 matrix the determinant is ad - bc
For a 3×3 matrix multiply a by the determinant of the 2×2 matrix that is not in a's row
or column, likewise for b and c, but remember that b has a negative sign!
The pattern continues for larger matrices: multiply a by the determinant of the matrix
that is not in a's row or column, continue like this across the whole row, but remember the
+ − + − pattern.
Mathopolis: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10
Copyright © 2023 Rod Pierce
