MAT 125

Introduction to Linear Algebra

Determinant

Mohammad Mahmud Hasan

Department of Mathematics and Physics

February 22, 2022

Outline:

• Determinant
• Minor and Cofactor
• Evaluating Determinant by Cofactor Expansion
• Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Minor and Cofactor

Minor: If 𝐴 is a square matrix, then the minor of entry 𝑎𝑖𝑗 is denoted by 𝑀𝑖𝑗 and is defined to be
the determinant of the submatrix that remains after the 𝑖𝑡ℎ row and j𝑡ℎ column are
deleted from 𝐴.

Cofactor: The number −1 𝑖+𝑗 𝑀𝑖𝑗 is denoted by 𝐶𝑖𝑗 and is called the cofactor of entry 𝑎𝑖𝑗 . Where
𝑀𝑖𝑗 is the minor of the entry 𝑎𝑖𝑗
Minor and Cofactor
Finding Minor and Cofactors
3 1 −4
Let 𝐴 = 2 5 6
1 4 8
Minor of the entry 𝑎12 is
3 1 −4
2 6
𝑀12 = 2 5 6 = = 16 − 6 = 10
1 8
1 4 8
Cofactor of the entry 𝑎12 is
3 1 −4
1+2 2 6
𝐶12 = −1 2 5 6 = −1 = − 16 − 6 = −10
1 8
1 4 8
Similarly,
Minor of the entry 𝑎32 is
3 1 −4
3 −4
𝑀32 = 2 5 6 = = 18 + 8 = 26
2 6
1 4 8
Cofactor of the entry 𝑎32 is
3 1 −4
3+2 3 −4
𝐶32 = −1 2 5 6 = −1 = − 18 + 8 = −26
2 6
1 4 8
Determinant of a Matrix
Theorem 2.1.1 If 𝐴 is an 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix, then regardless of which row or column of 𝐴 is chosen, the
number obtained by multiplying the entries in that row or column by the corresponding
cofactors and adding the resulting products is always the same.

Determinant: If 𝐴 is an 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix, then the number obtained by multiplying the entries in any row
or column of 𝐴 by the corresponding cofactors and adding the resulting products is called
the determinant of 𝑨, and the sums themselves are called cofactor expansions of 𝑨.
That is,
det 𝐴 = 𝑎1𝑗 𝐶1𝑗 + 𝑎2𝑗 𝐶2𝑗 + ⋯ . . +𝑎𝑛𝑗 𝐶𝑛𝑗
(cofactor expansion along the jth column)

det 𝐴 = 𝑎𝑖1 𝐶𝑖1 + 𝑎𝑖2 𝐶𝑖2 + ⋯ . . +𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑖𝑛

(cofactor expansion along the ith row)
Determinant of a Matrix
Theorem 2.1.1 If 𝐴 is an 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix, then regardless of which row or column of 𝐴 is chosen, the number
obtained by multiplying the entries in that row or column by the corresponding cofactors
and adding the resulting products is always the same.
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
𝐴 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Cofactor expansion along first row
𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
det 𝐴 = 𝑎11 𝐶11 + 𝑎12 𝐶12 + 𝑎13 𝐶13 = 𝑎11 𝑎 𝑎33 − 𝑎12 𝑎 𝑎33 + 𝑎13 𝑎 𝑎32
32 31 31

= 𝑎11 𝑎22 𝑎33 − 𝑎11 𝑎23 𝑎32 − 𝑎12 𝑎21 𝑎33 + 𝑎12 𝑎23 𝑎31 + 𝑎13 𝑎21 𝑎32 − 𝑎13 𝑎22 𝑎31

Cofactor expansion along second column

𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎11 𝑎13 𝑎11 𝑎13
det 𝐴 = 𝑎12 𝐶12 + 𝑎22 𝐶22 + 𝑎32 𝐶32 = −𝑎12 𝑎31 𝑎33 + 𝑎22 𝑎31 𝑎33 − 𝑎32 𝑎21 𝑎23

det 𝐴 = −𝑎12 𝑎21 𝑎33 + 𝑎12 𝑎23 𝑎31 + 𝑎11 𝑎22 𝑎33 − 𝑎13 𝑎22 𝑎31 − 𝑎11 𝑎23 𝑎32 + 𝑎13 𝑎21 𝑎32
𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
𝑎21 𝐶11 + 𝑎22 𝐶12 + 𝑎23 𝐶13 = 𝑎21 𝑎 − 𝑎 22 𝑎 + 𝑎23 𝑎
32 𝑎33 31 𝑎33 31 𝑎32
= 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎33 − 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎32 − 𝑎22 𝑎21 𝑎33 + 𝑎22 𝑎31 𝑎23 + 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎32 − 𝑎23 𝑎31 𝑎22 = 0
Determinant of a Matrix
3 1 0
Problem: Let 𝐴 = −2 −4 3 . Compute the determinant of the matrix 𝐴.
5 4 −2
Solution: Cofactor expansion of the determinant along first row
det 𝐴 = 𝑎11 𝐶11 + 𝑎12 𝐶12 + 𝑎13 𝐶13

1+1 . 3.−4 3 −2 3 −2 −4
det 𝐴 = −1 + −1 1+2 . 1. + −1 1+3 . 0.
4 −2 5 −2 5 4
det 𝐴 = 3 8 − 12 − 1 4 − 15 + 0 = −12 + 11 = −1
Smart choice of row or column:
1 0 0 −1
3 1 2 2
Let 𝐴 = choice the row or column that contain maximum number of zero
1 0 −2 1
2 0 0 1
det 𝐴 = 𝑎12 𝐶12 + 𝑎22 𝐶22 + 𝑎32 𝐶32 + 𝑎42 𝐶42
1 0 −1
2+2
det 𝐴 = 0 + −1 . 1. 1 −2 1 + 0 + 0
2 0 1
1 −1
det 𝐴 = 0 + −1 2+2 −2 = −2 1 + 2 = −6
2 1
Determinant of Triangular Matrix
Theorem 2.1.2 If 𝐴 is an 𝑛 × 𝑛 triangular matrix (upper triangular, lower triangular, or diagonal ), then
det(𝐴) is the product of the entries on the main diagonal of the matrix; that is,
det(𝐴) = 𝑎11 𝑎22 … 𝑎𝑛𝑛 .

Proof: let 𝐴 be a lower triangular matrix and let

𝑎11 0 0 0
𝑎21 𝑎22 0 0
𝐴=
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 0
𝑎41 𝑎42 𝑎43 𝑎44
Expand the determinant along first row
𝑎22 0 0
det 𝐴 = 𝑎11 𝑎32 𝑎33 0
𝑎42 𝑎43 𝑎44

𝑎33 0
det 𝐴 = 𝑎11 𝑎22 = 𝑎11 𝑎22 𝑎33 𝑎44 − 0 = 𝑎11 𝑎22 𝑎33 𝑎44
𝑎43 𝑎44
Homework:

Exercise Set: 2.1

21-42, All True False Exercise
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Theorem 2.2.1 Let 𝐴 be a square matrix. If 𝐴 has a row of zeros or a column of zeros, then det(𝐴) = 0.
Proof: Since the determinant of 𝐴 can be found by a cofactor expansion along any row or
column, we can use the row or column of zeros. Thus, if we let 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 , … . . , 𝐶𝑛 denote the
cofactors of 𝐴 along that row or column, then it follows from Formula (7) or (8) in Section
2.1 that
det 𝐴 = 0. 𝐶1 + 0. 𝐶2 + ⋯ . . +0. 𝐶𝑛 = 0
Theorem 2.2.2 Let 𝐴 be a square matrix. Then det(𝐴) = det(𝐴𝑇 )
Proof: Since transposing a matrix changes its columns to rows and its rows to columns, the
cofactor expansion of 𝐴 along any row is the same as the cofactor expansion of 𝐴𝑇 along
the corresponding column. Thus, both have the same determinant.

Theorem 2.2.3 Let 𝐴 be an 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix.

(a) If 𝐵 is the matrix that results when a single row or single column of 𝐴 is multiplied by a scalar
𝑘, then det(𝐵) = 𝑘 det(𝐴).
(b) If 𝐵 is the matrix that results when two rows or two columns of 𝐴 are interchanged, then
det(𝐵) = (−1) det(𝐴).
(c) If 𝐵 is the matrix that results when a multiple of one row of 𝐴 is added to another or when a
multiple of one column is added to another, then
det(𝐵) = det(𝐴).
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Proof (a): Let,
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
𝐴 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Multiply the first row by k we get
𝑘𝑎11 𝑘𝑎12 𝑘𝑎13
𝐵 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33

𝑘𝑎11 𝑘𝑎12 𝑘𝑎13 𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22

det 𝐵 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 = 𝑘𝑎11 𝑎32 𝑎33 − 𝑘𝑎12 𝑎31 𝑎33 + 𝑘𝑎13 𝑎31 𝑎32
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎
𝑎22 33
𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
= 𝑘 𝑎11 𝑎 𝑎 − 𝑎12 𝑎31 𝑎33 + 𝑎13 𝑎31 𝑎32 = 𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑡(𝐴)
32 33
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
Proof (c): Let, 𝐴 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Multiply the third row by k and add to the first row we get
𝑎11 + 𝑘𝑎31 𝑎12 + 𝑘𝑎32 𝑎13 + 𝑘𝑎33
𝐵= 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
𝑎11 + 𝑘𝑎31 𝑎12 + 𝑘𝑎32 𝑎13 + 𝑘𝑎33
Now det 𝐵 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Expand the determinant along first row
𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
det 𝐵 = 𝑎11 + 𝑘𝑎31 𝑎 𝑎33 − 𝑎12 + 𝑘𝑎32 𝑎 𝑎33 + 𝑎13 + 𝑘𝑎33 𝑎 𝑎32
32 31 31

𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22

det 𝐵 = 𝑎11 𝑎 − 𝑎12 𝑎 + 𝑎13 𝑎 +
32 𝑎33 31 𝑎33 31 𝑎32
𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
𝑘𝑎31 𝑎 − 𝑘𝑎32 𝑎 + 𝑘𝑎33 𝑎
32 𝑎33 31 𝑎33 31 𝑎32

𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22

det 𝐵 = det 𝐴 + 𝑘 𝑎31 𝑎 𝑎33 − 𝑎32 𝑎 𝑎33 + 𝑎33 𝑎 𝑎32
32 31 31

det 𝐵 = det 𝐴 + 𝑘. 0 = det(𝐴)

det 𝐵 = det 𝐴
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Theorem 2.2.4 Let 𝐸 be an 𝑛 × 𝑛 elementary matrix.
(a) If 𝐸 results from multiplying a row of 𝐼𝑛 by a nonzero number 𝑘, then det(𝐸) = 𝑘.
(b) If 𝐸 results from interchanging two rows of 𝐼𝑛 , then det(𝐸) = −1.
(c) If 𝐸 results from adding a multiple of one row of 𝐼𝑛 to another, then det(𝐸) = 1.
Proof: Try yourself

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0
𝐼= ≈𝐸=
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
2nd row of 𝐼4 is multiplied by 3
1 0 0 0
3 0 0
0 3 0 0 1 0
det 𝐸 = = 1. 0 1 0 =3 = 3.1 = 3
0 0 1 0 0 1
0 0 1
0 0 0 1
1st and 4th row interchanged
0 0 0 1
0 1 0
0 1 0 0 0 1
= −1 0 0 1 = −1 −1 = −1
0 0 1 0 1 0
1 0 0
1 0 0 0
Multiply the 1st row by 7 and add to the 4th row
1 0 0 0
1 0 0
0 1 0 0
=1 0 1 0 =1
0 0 1 0
0 0 1
7 0 0 1
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Theorem 2.2.5 If 𝐴 is a square matrix with two proportional rows or two proportional columns, then
det(𝐴) = 0.
Proof: Let
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
𝐴 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Let first and second rows are proportional, then
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
= = = 𝑘 (𝑠𝑎𝑦)
𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
Hence
𝑘𝑎21 𝑘𝑎22 𝑘𝑎23
𝐴 = 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33
Expand the determinant along first row
det 𝐴 = 𝑘𝑎21 𝐶11 + k𝑎22 𝐶12 + 𝑘𝑎23 𝐶13 = 𝑘 𝑎21 𝐶11 + 𝑎22 𝐶12 + 𝑎23 𝐶13
𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎22
det 𝐴 = 𝑘 𝑎21 𝑎32 𝑎33 − 𝑎22 𝑎31 𝑎33 + 𝑘𝑎23 𝑎31 𝑎32

det 𝐴 = 𝑘 𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎33 − 𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎32 − 𝑎22 𝑎21 𝑎33 + 𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎31 + 𝑎23 𝑎21 𝑎32 − 𝑎23 𝑎22 𝑎31 = 0
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Problem: Using row reduction to evaluate the determinant of A. Where
0 1 5
A = 3 −6 9
2 6 1
Solution:
0 1 5
det 𝐴 = 3 −6 9
2 6 1

3 −6 9
det 𝐴 = (−1) 0 1 5 𝑅1 ⇌ 𝑅2
2 6 1

1 −2 3
1
det 𝐴 = (−1)(3) 0 1 5 𝑅′1 = 𝑅
3 1
2 6 1

1 −2 3 𝑅′3 = 𝑅3 + (−2)𝑅1
det 𝐴 = (−1)(3) 0 1 5
0 10 −5
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Problem: Using row reduction to evaluate the determinant of A. Where
0 1 5
A = 3 −6 9
2 6 1
Solution:
1 −2 3
det 𝐴 = (−1)(3) 0 1 5 𝑅′3 = 𝑅3 + (−10)𝑅2
0 10 −5

1 −2 3
det 𝐴 = (−1)(3) 0 1 5
0 0 −55

1 −2 3 1
det 𝐴 = (−1)(3)(−55) 0 1 5 𝑅′3 = 𝑅
−55 3
0 0 1

det 𝐴 = −1 3 −55 . 1.1.1 = 165

Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Problem: Using row reduction and cofactor expansion to evaluate the determinant of A. Where
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
A=
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1 𝑅′1 = 𝑅1 + (−3)𝑅2
det 𝐴 = 𝑅′3 = 𝑅3 + (−2)𝑅2
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3 𝑅′4 = 𝑅4 + (−3)𝑅2

0 −1 1 3
1 2 −1 1
det 𝐴 =
0 0 3 3
0 1 8 0

−1 1 3
det 𝐴 = (−1) 0 3 3 𝑅′3 = 𝑅3 + (1)𝑅1
1 8 0
Evaluating Determinant by Row Reduction
Problem: Using row reduction and cofactor expansion to evaluate the determinant of A. Where
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
A=
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
Solution:
−1 1 3
det 𝐴 = (−1) 0 3 3 𝑅′3 = 𝑅3 + (1)𝑅1
1 8 0

−1 1 3
det 𝐴 = (−1) 0 3 3
0 9 3

3 3
det 𝐴 = (−1)(−1)
9 3

det 𝐴 = 9 − 27 = −18
Homework:

Exercise Set: 2.2

3-4,7-8,9-14, 15-30, All True False Exercise