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Determinants · Determinants

Matrix algebra using determinants

Until now you have applied one property of the determinant at a time. In university entrance exam problems you normally have to chain three or four at once —transpose, product, power, inverse— without ever calculating the elements of the matrix. This section brings together that algebra in the cases that really come up in the exam.

Combining several properties at once

Diagram of the simplification of a determinant by chaining properties of the transpose, the inverse and the product by a scalar. |3·Aᵗ·A⁻¹| 3ⁿ · |Aᵗ| · |A⁻¹| 3ⁿ · |A| · (1/|A|) = 3ⁿ
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Given that the determinant of a square matrix $A$ of order 3 is $|A| = -2$, use the properties of determinants to calculate, with reasoning, the value of the following…

Given that the determinant of a square matrix $A$ of order 3 is $|A| = -2$, use the properties of determinants to calculate, with reasoning, the value of the following determinants:

  1. a) $|A^t \cdot A|$
  1. b) $|3A^{-1}|$
  1. c) The determinant of the matrix resulting from multiplying the first row of $A$ by $5$, swapping the second and third rows, and transposing the matrix.
Matrix A (order n = 3) |A| = −2 a) |Aᵗ · A| Key properties: |Aᵗ| = |A| |A·B| = |A|·|B| b) |3A⁻¹| Key properties: |k·A| = k³·|A| |A⁻¹| = 1/|A| c) Transformed Operations: R₁ → 5R₁ (×5) R₂ ↔ R₃ (×-1) A → Aᵗ (×1)
Solve
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Given the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 2 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 3 & 0 & 2 \end{pmatrix}$, calculate: a) The determinant of $A$ using Sarrus's rule. b) The matrix of…

Given the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 2 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 3 & 0 & 2 \end{pmatrix}$, calculate:

  1. a) The determinant of $A$ using Sarrus's rule.
  1. b) The matrix of cofactors $\text{Adj}(A)$.
  1. c) Check that the property $A \cdot \text{Adj}(A)^t = |A| \cdot I$ holds, where $I$ is the identity matrix of order 3.
Solve
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Consider the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & -1 \\ 0 & m & 3 \\ 4 & 1 & -m \end{pmatrix}$. a) Determine the values of the parameter $m$ for which the matrix $A$ has…

Consider the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & -1 \\ 0 & m & 3 \\ 4 & 1 & -m \end{pmatrix}$.

  1. a) Determine the values of the parameter $m$ for which the matrix $A$ has an inverse.
  1. b) For $m = 2$, solve the matrix equation $X \cdot A - 2 \cdot Adj(A) = |A| \cdot I$, where $Adj(A)$ is the adjugate matrix of $A$ and $I$ is the identity matrix.

Hint: Use the fundamental relationship between a matrix and its adjugate: $A \cdot (Adj(A))^t = |A| \cdot I$.

Solve

The identity $A\cdot\operatorname{Adj}(A)^t=|A|\cdot I$

This last form is the one to use when $\operatorname{Adj}(A)$ appears inside a matrix equation: replace it with $|A|\cdot A^{-1}$ (or its transpose) and the equation becomes one of those you already know how to solve.

Diagram of the product of a matrix by the transpose of its adjugate giving the identity matrix weighted by the determinant. A · Adj(A)ᵗ = |A| · I Adj(A)ᵗ = |A| · A⁻¹ (if |A| ≠ 0)
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Given the matrix $M = \begin{pmatrix} k & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & k & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & k \end{pmatrix}$: a) Determine the values of the real parameter $k$ for which the matrix $M$ is…

Given the matrix $M = \begin{pmatrix} k & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & k & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & k \end{pmatrix}$:

  1. a) Determine the values of the real parameter $k$ for which the matrix $M$ is singular (has no inverse).
  1. b) For the value $k = 0$, calculate the inverse matrix $M^{-1}$ using the adjugate matrix method.
Solve
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In an air traffic control system, the position of three drones at a given moment is defined by the columns of a matrix $P$. In the simplified model used, the…

In an air traffic control system, the position of three drones at a given moment is defined by the columns of a matrix $P$. In the simplified model used, the configuration is considered safe only if the determinant of $P$ is non-zero. Given the matrix:

$$P(k) = \begin{pmatrix} k & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & k & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & k \end{pmatrix}$$
  1. a) Calculate the values of $k$ for which the drones would be in a "critical" configuration (zero determinant).
  1. b) For $k = 0$, check whether the matrix is invertible and, if so, find its inverse $P^{-1}$ using the adjugate matrix method.
  1. c) Show that for any value of $k \neq 1$ and $k \neq -2$, $P(k)$ is non-singular.
Solve

Systems with two unknown matrices

Solving a linear system of two unknown matrices by the addition and elimination method. 2X + Y = A X − Y = B add 3X = A + B solve for X X = (A+B)/3
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Solve the following matrix equation to find the unknown matrix $X$: $A \cdot X = B$ Where: $A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$ and…

Solve the following matrix equation to find the unknown matrix $X$:

$A \cdot X = B$

Where:

$A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$ and $B = \begin{pmatrix} 2 & 3 \\ 1 & 4 \end{pmatrix}$

(Remember: $X = A^{-1} \cdot B$. You must calculate $A^{-1}$ first).

Solve
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Solve the system of matrix equations to find the matrices $X$ and $Y$:…

Solve the system of matrix equations to find the matrices $X$ and $Y$:

$\begin{cases} 2X + Y = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ -1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} \\ X - Y = \begin{pmatrix} 2 & 3 \\ 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix} \end{cases}$

Once found, calculate the determinant of the product matrix $X \cdot Y$.

Solve
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Solve the following system of matrix equations for the unknown matrices $X$ and $Y$: $$\begin{cases} 2X + Y = A \\ X - Y = B \end{cases}$$ where the coefficient matrices…

Solve the following system of matrix equations for the unknown matrices $X$ and $Y$:

$$\begin{cases} 2X + Y = A \\ X - Y = B \end{cases}$$

where the coefficient matrices are:

$$A = \begin{pmatrix} 5 & 1 \\ 11 & 4 \end{pmatrix}, \quad B = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix}$$

Once $X$ and $Y$ have been found:

  1. a) Calculate $|X \cdot Y|$ and $|X + Y|$.
  2. b) Determine whether the product matrix $X \cdot Y$ is invertible using its determinant.
2X + Y = A X - Y = B + 3X = A + B X = 1/3(A + B) A = 5 1 11 4 B = 1 −1 1 2 |X · Y| = ? |X + Y| = ? ∃(X · Y)⁻¹ ?
Solve

Matrices that satisfy an equation

Algebraic procedure for factorising and solving for the inverse matrix from a matrix polynomial equation. A² − 5A + 6I = O A⁻¹ = (5I − A) / 6
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It is known that a square matrix $B$ satisfies the equation $B^2 - 3B + 2I = O$, where $I$ is the identity matrix and $O$ is the zero matrix. a) Show that $B$ is a…

It is known that a square matrix $B$ satisfies the equation $B^2 - 3B + 2I = O$, where $I$ is the identity matrix and $O$ is the zero matrix.

  1. a) Show that $B$ is a non-singular matrix (has an inverse) and express $B^{-1}$ in terms of $B$ and $I$.
  1. b) If $B$ is of order 2 and its determinant is $|B| = 2$, what is the determinant of the adjugate matrix of $B$, $|\text{Adj}(B)|$?
Solve
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Let $A$ and $B$ be two square matrices of order 3 such that $|A| = 2$ and $|B| = -1$. Calculate, justifying each step using the properties of determinants, the value of…

Let $A$ and $B$ be two square matrices of order 3 such that $|A| = 2$ and $|B| = -1$. Calculate, justifying each step using the properties of determinants, the value of the following determinants:

  1. a) $|(A^t \cdot B)^{-1}|$
  1. b) $|3 \cdot A^2 \cdot Adj(B)|$
  1. c) Given that a matrix $C$ satisfies $C^2 = C$ (idempotent matrix), show that its determinant can only be 0 or 1.
Solve

The Vandermonde determinant and other symmetries

The result is $0$ exactly when two of the parameters coincide: this makes sense, because then two rows would be equal.

Structure of the Vandermonde determinant of order 3 and its factorisation as a product of differences. 1xx² 1yy² 1zz² (y−x)(z−x)(z−y) = 0 ⟺ two equal parameters

Other very symmetric determinants are simplified by adding all the rows (or columns) into one, which often takes out a common factor and leaves the rest with many zeros.

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An electronic components company manufactures three types of circuits: $C_1$, $C_2$ and $C_3$. The production cost of each circuit is determined by the determinant of…

An electronic components company manufactures three types of circuits: $C_1$, $C_2$ and $C_3$. The production cost of each circuit is determined by the determinant of the material matrix $M$:

$M = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ x & y & z \\ x^2 & y^2 & z^2 \end{pmatrix}$

  1. a) Knowing that $x$, $y$ and $z$ represent the quantities of silicon, copper and tin respectively, show that the determinant of this matrix (Vandermonde) is $(y-x)(z-x)(z-y)$.
  1. b) If for a specific circuit the quantities are $x=1$, $y=2$ and $z=4$, is the matrix $M$ invertible? Justify your answer using the result from the previous section.
CIRCUIT PRODUCTION COST Models manufactured: C₁, C₂, C₃ a) M = 1 1 1 x y z x² y² z² x: Si Silicon y: Cu Copper z: Sn Tin Cost = |M| |M| = ? (y-x)(z-x)(z-y) ? b) C? Specific Circuit: x=1, y=2, z=4 Is M invertible? ∃ M⁻¹ ? ⇔ |M| ≠ 0
Solve
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Consider the matrix of order 4 depending on the real parameter $k$: $$M = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1-k & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1+k & 1 \\ k & k & k & k^2…

Consider the matrix of order 4 depending on the real parameter $k$:

$$M = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1-k & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1+k & 1 \\ k & k & k & k^2 \end{pmatrix}$$

Using only the properties of determinants, perform the following tasks:

  1. a) Find the value of the determinant of $M$ in terms of $k$, giving the result in factorised form.
  1. b) Determine the values of $k$ for which the matrix $M$ has no inverse.
  1. c) For the case $k = 2$, calculate the value of the determinant of the adjugate matrix of $M$, that is, $|Adj(M)|$, without explicitly calculating the elements of this adjugate matrix.
M = Pivot row 1 1 1 1 1 1-k 1 1 1 1 1+k 1 k k k k² R₂ → R₂ - R₁ R₃ → R₃ - R₁ R₄ → R₄ - k·R₁
Solve

Rank with several parameters

When a matrix depends on two parameters at once, the study of the rank is done just as with a single one —take the larger determinant, factorise it, use bordered minors in the borderline cases— but now the conditions can be equations with two unknowns, and you have to describe regions of the $(a,b)$ plane, not just isolated points.

Representation in the plane of the rank regions according to two parameters, showing the critical line and the singular points. a b a = 2b (rk < 3) rk = 3 in the rest of the plane
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Consider the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & m & 1 \\ m & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 2 & 2 \end{pmatrix}$. a) Calculate the determinant of $A$ as a function of the parameter $m$. b)…

Consider the matrix $A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & m & 1 \\ m & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 2 & 2 \end{pmatrix}$.

  1. a) Calculate the determinant of $A$ as a function of the parameter $m$.
  1. b) Determine the rank of the matrix $A$ according to the values of $m$.
Solve
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Determine the rank of the matrix $A$ according to the values of the real parameters $a$ and $b$: $$A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a & 1 & 2 \\ 2 & b & 2 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 & a & 2…

Determine the rank of the matrix $A$ according to the values of the real parameters $a$ and $b$:

$$A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a & 1 & 2 \\ 2 & b & 2 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 & a & 2 \end{pmatrix}$$

To carry out the study, use the method of bordered minors and explain in detail under what conditions the rank is 1, 2 or 3.

Solve

Summary

See all the exercises in this section