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Precalculus · Mathematics
Determinants · Determinants

Properties of Determinants

Before you start, make sure you know: Gaussian elimination (Algebra 2)

A teammate on your game-development club sends you a screenshot. The debugger shows a $3 \times 3$ transformation matrix $A$, but the only number visible is $|A| = 2$. Without seeing a single entry, can you find the determinant of the transpose $A^t$, of the scaled matrix $2A$, of $A^3$, and of $A \cdot B$ when $|B| = -3$?

Expanding a big determinant entry by entry is slow, and there is usually no need. The properties on this page let you build new determinants out of known ones with no Sarrus' rule and no cofactors. Let's learn them one at a time.

Transpose and Row Swaps

Swapping rows R1 and R2 of a matrix makes the determinant change sign. R₁ R₂ R₃ R₂ R₁ R₃ |B| = −|A|
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Given that the determinant of a square matrix $A$ of order 3 is $|A| = -4$, use the properties of determinants to calculate the value of the following determinants: a)…

Given that the determinant of a square matrix $A$ of order 3 is $|A| = -4$, use the properties of determinants to calculate the value of the following determinants:

  1. a) $|A^t|$, where $A^t$ is the transpose of $A$.
  1. b) The determinant of the matrix resulting from swapping the first two rows of $A$.
  1. c) The determinant of the matrix obtained by multiplying the third column of $A$ by $-5$.
Solve

Scalar Multiples

Multiplying one row by k multiplies the determinant by k, while multiplying all n rows by k multiplies it by k to the n. one row × k k · |A| every row × k kⁿ · |A|
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Let $M$ be a matrix of order $3 \times 3$ such that its determinant is $|M| = 2$. Calculate the value of the determinant of matrix $3M$. Explain which property you used…

Let $M$ be a matrix of order $3 \times 3$ such that its determinant is $|M| = 2$. Calculate the value of the determinant of matrix $3M$. Explain which property you used and be careful with the order of the matrix.

Solve
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In a strategy video game, the coordinates of resources are stored in a matrix $3 \times 3$ called $C$. If we know that $|C| = 10$, what would be the value of the…

In a strategy video game, the coordinates of resources are stored in a matrix $3 \times 3$ called $C$. If we know that $|C| = 10$, what would be the value of the determinant if we double all the rows of the matrix (that is, we calculate $|2C|$)? Compare this result with the one obtained if we only doubled the first row.

Solve
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Given that $\begin{vmatrix} a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{vmatrix} = 6$, calculate the value of the following determinant without expanding it:…

Given that $\begin{vmatrix} a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{vmatrix} = 6$, calculate the value of the following determinant without expanding it:

$$\begin{vmatrix} d & e & f \\ g & h & i \\ 2a & 2b & 2c \end{vmatrix}$$

Indicate step by step which properties you used (swapping rows and scalar multiplication).

Solve

Adding a Multiple of One Row to Another

Think of a $2 \times 2$ determinant as the area of the parallelogram built from its two rows. Adding a multiple of $R_1$ to $R_2$ slides the top edge sideways. The base and height don't change, so the area doesn't either.

Two parallelograms with the same base and the same height, showing that adding a multiple of one row to another keeps the area, which is the determinant. R₁ R₂ R₂ + R₁ same base, same height, same area

This is the heart of Gaussian elimination: you can create zeros without changing the determinant.

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Prove, using the properties of determinants, that if a linear combination of the other rows is added to a row of a square matrix, the value of the determinant does not…

Prove, using the properties of determinants, that if a linear combination of the other rows is added to a row of a square matrix, the value of the determinant does not change. To do this, check what happens to the determinant:

$|A| = \begin{vmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{vmatrix}$

if we perform the row operation $F_2 = F_2 + k \cdot F_1$.

Solve
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In the design of a new video game, the position of an object in 3D space is defined by a determinant of a matrix $M$ that represents its volume. It is known that:…

In the design of a new video game, the position of an object in 3D space is defined by a determinant of a matrix $M$ that represents its volume. It is known that:

$|M| = \begin{vmatrix} a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{vmatrix} = 12$

Calculate, justifying the property applied, the value of the determinant of the matrix $N$ that represents a deformation of the object:

$|N| = \begin{vmatrix} d & e & f \\ 2a-g & 2b-h & 2c-i \\ g & h & i \end{vmatrix}$

Solve
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An encryption system uses a matrix $A$ of order 3 to encode messages. If the determinant of the matrix is $|A| = k$, justify how the determinant varies if the following…

An encryption system uses a matrix $A$ of order 3 to encode messages. If the determinant of the matrix is $|A| = k$, justify how the determinant varies if the following security modifications are made:

  1. The first and third rows are swapped to increase entropy.

  2. The second column is multiplied by $-1$ to change the polarity of the bits.

  3. Three times the second row is added to the first row.

What would be the final value of the determinant in terms of $k$?

Solve

Dependent Rows and Columns: Determinant Zero

Two proportional row vectors lie on the same line, so the parallelogram they span is flat and has zero area. R₁ R₂ = 2R₁ no area, so the determinant is 0
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Without performing any operations or applying Sarrus's rule, justify why the following determinants are zero: a)…

Without performing any operations or applying Sarrus's rule, justify why the following determinants are zero:

  1. a) $\begin{vmatrix} 2 & 1 & 3 \\ 4 & 2 & 6 \\ 1 & -1 & 5 \end{vmatrix}$
  1. b) $\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 5 & 0 \\ 2 & 3 & 0 \\ -4 & 7 & 0 \end{vmatrix}$
  1. c) $\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 5 & 7 & 9 \end{vmatrix}$
2 1 3 4 2 6 1 −1 5 ×2 = 0 F₂ = 2F₁ 1 5 0 2 3 0 −4 7 0 = 0 C₃ = 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 7 9 F₁+F₂ = 0 F₃ = F₁ + F₂
Solve
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Without expanding the determinant or using Sarrus' rule, show that the following determinant is zero for any value of the parameters $a, b, c \in \mathbb{R}$:…

Without expanding the determinant or using Sarrus' rule, show that the following determinant is zero for any value of the parameters $a, b, c \in \mathbb{R}$:

$\begin{vmatrix} 1 & a & b+c \\ 1 & b & a+c \\ 1 & c & a+b \end{vmatrix} = 0$

State in each step which elementary operation or property you are using.

Solve
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Given the matrix $A = (a_{ij})$ of order 3, whose elements are given by the expression $a_{ij} = i + j$. Show, using properties of rows and columns, that its determinant…

Given the matrix $A = (a_{ij})$ of order 3, whose elements are given by the expression $a_{ij} = i + j$. Show, using properties of rows and columns, that its determinant is $|A| = 0$.

|A| = 2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 R₂ - R₁ = (1, 1, 1) R₃ - R₂ = (1, 1, 1) L.D. rows |A| = 0
Solve

The Determinant of a Product

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Given two square matrices $A$ and $B$ of the same order, we know that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -2$. Calculate, indicating the properties applied: a) $|A \cdot B|$ b) $|B^2|$…

Given two square matrices $A$ and $B$ of the same order, we know that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -2$. Calculate, indicating the properties applied:

  1. a) $|A \cdot B|$
  1. b) $|B^2|$
  1. c) $|A \cdot B^t|$
Solve
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Let $A$ be a square matrix of order 3 such that its determinant is $|A| = -2$. Using exclusively the properties of determinants, calculate the value of the following…

Let $A$ be a square matrix of order 3 such that its determinant is $|A| = -2$. Using exclusively the properties of determinants, calculate the value of the following determinants:

  1. a) $|A^t \cdot A|$
  1. b) $|3 \cdot A^{-1}|$
  1. c) $|\text{det}(A) \cdot A|$
A ∈ M₃(ℝ) 3×3 v₂ v₃ v₁ = −2 PROPERTIES: ? a) |At · A| = ? b) |3 · A−1| = ? c) |det(A) · A| = ?
Solve

The Determinant of an Inverse

The matrix A times its inverse gives the identity matrix, so their determinants multiply to 1. A · A⁻¹ = I |A| 1/|A| |I| = 1
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If $A$ is a matrix of order 3 such that $|A| = \frac{1}{2}$, calculate the determinant of its inverse matrix $A^{-1}$, justifying your answer using the property of the…

If $A$ is a matrix of order 3 such that $|A| = \frac{1}{2}$, calculate the determinant of its inverse matrix $A^{-1}$, justifying your answer using the property of the determinant of a matrix product.

A · A⁻¹ = I |A| = 1/2 |A⁻¹| = ? |I| = 1 |A| · |A⁻¹| = |I|
Solve
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If $A$ and $B$ are two square matrices of order 2 such that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -1$, calculate the value of the determinant of matrix $X$ obtained from the following…

If $A$ and $B$ are two square matrices of order 2 such that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -1$, calculate the value of the determinant of matrix $X$ obtained from the following matrix equation:

$X = (A \cdot B)^t \cdot (2A)^{-1}$

Apply the properties of transposition, inversion, and matrix multiplication to simplify the expression before substituting the numerical values.

Solve

The Adjugate Matrix

The adjugate $\operatorname{adj}(A)$ is the transpose of the matrix of cofactors of $A$. You'll build it entry by entry in the section on inverses. Here we only need one fact about it.

The matrix A times its adjugate equals the determinant of A times the identity, so the determinant of the adjugate is the determinant of A to the n minus 1. A · adj(A) = |A|·I |A| |A|ⁿ⁻¹ |A|ⁿ
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Given the matrix $B$ of order 3, it is known that the determinant of its adjugate matrix is $|\text{Adj}(B)| = 64$. Calculate with justification the possible values of…

Given the matrix $B$ of order 3, it is known that the determinant of its adjugate matrix is $|\text{Adj}(B)| = 64$. Calculate with justification the possible values of the determinant of the matrix $B$. Subsequently, calculate the determinant of the matrix $2B^t$.

Solve
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Given two matrices $A$ and $B$ of order 3 such that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -2$, calculate the value of the determinant of the matrix $X$ that satisfies the following…

Given two matrices $A$ and $B$ of order 3 such that $|A| = 3$ and $|B| = -2$, calculate the value of the determinant of the matrix $X$ that satisfies the following matrix equation:

$A \cdot X \cdot B^{-1} = (A^t \cdot Adj(A))^{-1}$

Justify each property used in the process (determinant of a product, of an inverse, of a transpose, and the relationship between a matrix and its adjugate).

Solve
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Let $A$ be a square matrix of order $n=4$ whose determinant is $|A| = \frac{1}{2}$. Using exclusively the properties of determinants, calculate with justification the…

Let $A$ be a square matrix of order $n=4$ whose determinant is $|A| = \frac{1}{2}$. Using exclusively the properties of determinants, calculate with justification the value of the determinant of the matrix $B$, defined as:

$B = (2A)^{-1} \cdot A^t \cdot Adj(A)$

Where $A^t$ is the transpose of $A$ and $Adj(A)$ is its adjugate matrix.

Solve

Skew-Symmetric Matrices

A 3 by 3 skew-symmetric matrix with zeros on the diagonal and opposite entries across it. 0ab −a0c −b−c0 mirror entries are opposites; the diagonal must be 0
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A computer vision algorithm for gesture recognition uses a transformation matrix $T$ of order 3. It is known that this matrix is skew-symmetric ($T^t = -T$). a) Show…

A computer vision algorithm for gesture recognition uses a transformation matrix $T$ of order 3. It is known that this matrix is skew-symmetric ($T^t = -T$).

  1. a) Show with justification, using the properties of determinants, that the determinant of any skew-symmetric matrix of odd order is always 0.
  1. b) If the matrix is modified to be $M = I + T$ (where $I$ is the identity matrix), what could you state about the invertibility of $M$ if we know that all the eigenvalues of $T$ are purely imaginary?

(Note for the student: Focus on part a) as the core of the determinants problem).

T T = 0 a b -a 0 c -b -c 0 Tᵗ = -T |T| = 0
Solve

Rows That Add to the Same Number

Matrices with a lot of symmetry often have the same sum in every row. That is a strong hint.

A 3 by 3 matrix whose rows each add up to x plus 4. x22 2x2 22x → x + 4 → x + 4 → x + 4 every row adds up to x + 4

Does this work for any size? Let's see what happens when the diagonal entries are all $a$ and every other entry is $b$.

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Solve the following equation for $x \in \mathbb{R}$ applying the properties of determinants to simplify the expression before calculating its value:…

Solve the following equation for $x \in \mathbb{R}$ applying the properties of determinants to simplify the expression before calculating its value:

$\begin{vmatrix} x+1 & x & x \\ x & x+1 & x \\ x & x & x+1 \end{vmatrix} = 0$

x+1 x x x x+1 x x x x+1 Sum of columns C₁ → C₁ + C₂ + C₃ 3x+1 x x 3x+1 x+1 x 3x+1 x x+1 = 0
Solve
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Let $A$ be the matrix of order $n \times n$:…

Let $A$ be the matrix of order $n \times n$:

$A = \begin{pmatrix} 1+x & 1 & 1 & \dots & 1 \\ 1 & 1+x & 1 & \dots & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1+x & \dots & 1 \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ 1 & 1 & 1 & \dots & 1+x \end{pmatrix}$

Obtain the general expression for its determinant $|A|$ in terms of $n$ and $x$. Apply the result to find the determinant of a matrix of order 10 where $x=2$.

Solve
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Solve the following equation for $x \in \mathbb{R}$ without fully expanding the polynomial, using the properties of rows and columns to simplify: $$\begin{vmatrix} x & 1…

Solve the following equation for $x \in \mathbb{R}$ without fully expanding the polynomial, using the properties of rows and columns to simplify:

$$\begin{vmatrix} x & 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 1 & x & 3 & 2 \\ 2 & 3 & x & 1 \\ 3 & 2 & 1 & x \end{vmatrix} = 0$$

Hint: Look at the sum of the elements in each row or column.

Solve

Putting It All Together

Hard problems mix several properties. Use this checklist.

If you see... Try...
Transpose $A^t$ $\lvert A^t\rvert = \lvert A\rvert$
$kA$ with $A$ of order $n$ $k^n\lvert A\rvert$
A product $AB$ $\lvert A\rvert\lvert B\rvert$
$A^{-1}$ $1/\lvert A\rvert$
$\operatorname{adj}(A)$ $\lvert A\rvert^{n-1}$
A common factor in one row Factor it out
Two rows swapped Multiply by $-1$
A pattern in the entries Look for a dependency or equal row sums
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In the design of filters for audio signals, a transfer matrix $M$ is used which depends on an angular frequency $\omega$. The matrix is given by:…

In the design of filters for audio signals, a transfer matrix $M$ is used which depends on an angular frequency $\omega$. The matrix is given by:

$M(\omega) = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & \cos(\omega) & \cos(2\omega) \\ \cos(\omega) & \cos(2\omega) & \cos(3\omega) \\ \cos(2\omega) & \cos(3\omega) & \cos(4\omega) \end{pmatrix}$

Calculate the determinant of $M(\omega)$, simplifying the result as much as possible using trigonometric identities and properties of determinants.

ω y π/2 π 3π/2 2π 1 −1 cos(ω) cos(2ω) cos(3ω)
Solve
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Let $A$ be a matrix of order 3 such that its elements are $a_{ij} = i + j$. Let $B$ be another matrix of order 3 such that its elements are $b_{ij} = (-1)^{i+j}$. a)…

Let $A$ be a matrix of order 3 such that its elements are $a_{ij} = i + j$. Let $B$ be another matrix of order 3 such that its elements are $b_{ij} = (-1)^{i+j}$.

  1. a) Calculate $|A|$ and $|B|$ applying properties of linear combinations of rows or columns.
  1. b) Calculate the determinant of the matrix $C = 2A^2 \cdot B^t$.
  1. c) Is it possible to find a matrix $D$ such that $A \cdot D = I$? Justify your answer based on the value of the determinant of $A$.
Solve

Back to the start: the screenshot showed $|A| = 2$ for a $3 \times 3$ matrix. Now you can say $|A^t| = 2$, $|2A| = 2^3 \cdot 2 = 16$, $|A^3| = 2^3 = 8$, and $|AB| = 2 \cdot (-3) = -6$ when $|B| = -3$, all without seeing a single entry.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section