MATH

HEMATICS
S TUTOR
RIAL

INTER
RNATIONAL UNDE
ERGRADU
UATE PRO
OGRAMM
ME

By Gillang (gum
milangaryo
o@gmail.com)

SUP
PPLEM
MENT #1
#

“Imaginatiion is more
e importantt than know
wledge” – Einstein
E –

HOW TO
T CALC
CULATE DETERMI
D INANT?

1. Sarrus
s’ method
d
2. Laplac
ce expans
sion

CHAN
NGE IN DE
ETERMIN
NANT’S VA
ALUE – ROW
R & CO
OLUMN M
MODIFICA
ATION

1. If a ROW is multip
plied with a scalar, the deterrminant va
alue is
multiplied
d by the same
s scallar.
2. If the ROW
W is exch
hanged, th
he determ
minant is multiplied
m d by (-1)n. Where
n is the number
n off switches
s made, th
hat is, n is
s 2 if you exchange
e the
ROW twic
ce.
3. If a ROW is added by a scalar multip
plication of
o a ROW, the
determina
ants is UN
NCHANGE
ED.

NOTE: The 3 ru
ules above
e also app
ply to COL
LUMN mo
odification
n.
Example:

1 2 1
2 1 3
1 5 0

1. Find the determinant of the matrix above!

| | 0 6 10 1 15)

| | 10

2. Multiply the first row by 10, then find the value of the determinant!
10 20 10
2 1 3
1 5 0
| | 60 100 10 150)
| | 100
Note that the determinant is 10 times the previous determinant. The
same scalar (10) multiplied to the first row. Rule 1 is PROVED!

3. Multiply the second column by 2, then find the value of the

determinant!
1 4 1
2 2 3
1 10 0
| | 0 12 20 2 30 )
| | 20
Note that the determinant is twice (2 times) the previous
determinant. The same scalar multiplied to the second column. Rule 1
is PROVED!
4. Exchange the first column with the third column, then find the value
of the determinant! (Hint: see rule no. 2)

1 2 1
3 1 2
0 5 1

| | 1 0 15 0 10 6)
| | 10
 The number of exchange is 1 (one i.e. the first column is exchanged
with the third column, so the value of n is 1). The value of the new
determinant is -10 that is (-1)1 times the old determinant. Rule 2 is
PROVED!
5. Multiply the first column by 2 and add it to the third column, the find
the value of the determinant! (Hint: see rule no. 3)

1 2 3
| | 2 1 7
1 5 2

| | 2 14 30 3 35 8)
| | 10

EXAMPLE

Now use rule No.3 to solve the 4x4 matrix below.

1 0 2 3
1 5 4 1
0 7 3 6
2 4 5 1

- We can use Laplace expansion along 1st column

0 2 3
5 4 1
7 3 6
4 5 1
- R2+R1 & R4-2R1
1 0 2 3
0 5 6 4
0 7 3 6
0 4 1 5
- R2-6R4 & R3+3R4
1 0 2 3
0 19 0 34
0 19 0 9
0 4 1 5
- Now use we can calculate determinant easier
1 19 9 0 34 19
19 9 34 19
19 34 9
 19 25
475
- Ain’t it simpler guys?

ELEMENTARY ROWS OPERATION (ERO)

There are many way to solve a system of n-unknowns. For example of

systems of n-unknowns:

1. System of 2-unknowns
2
2 3
2. System of 3 unknowns
4 3 8
2 5 4
3 2 4 9

There are many alternatives to solve systems above, here are some of the
alternatives:

1. Elimination method
2. Matrix inversion
3. Cramer’s Rule

I want to introduce a method, named elementary rows operation or ERO,

that is able to solve systems above. There are some advantage to ERO, that
is, ERO needs less time. But precision is needed and practicing ERO is
essential. So the choice is yours to make. The steps to ERO will be
discussed below.

Before we discuss the steps to ERO, lets look at these examples of linear
equations below.

1. 2 3 6
4 6 3
2. 2
2 3
 3. 5
3 3 15
• System No. 1 is INCONSISTENT. Why?
The left hand side equation of the second equation is twice of the first
equation. But the right hand side equation of the second equation is
half of the first equation. Thus the system is inconsistent.
• System No. 2 has A UNIQUE SOLUTION. Why?
• System No. 3 has INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS. Why?
The second equation is three times the first equation, thus the system
has infinitely many solutions.
Here are the steps in ERO.
1. STEP #1
Define the linear equation, say equation No.2 above
2
2 3
or you can write the system above as

2
2. STEP #2
Form the augmented matrix of the equation above, which is
1 1 2
2 1 3
or you can write the augmented matrix above as
1 1
2 1
3. STEP #3
Then you can apply three ROW modifications (row ONLY).
a. Switch one ROW with another
b. Multiply a non-zero ROW with a scalar
c. Add a ROW with a scalar (positive or negative) multiplication of
another ROW.
4. STEPS #4
Apply steps #3 to obtain this form:
 1 0
0 1

EXAMPLE OF ERO

1. Example #1

Let the system of linear equation be,

2
2 3

The augmented matrix of the system above is,

1 1 2
2 1 3

Now, we apply steps #3

- R2-2R1 – add 2nd row with negative scalar -2 times 1st row (see steps
#3 point c)
1 1 2
R2-2R1
2 1 3

1 1 2
0 3 1
- R2 – multiply 2nd row by –(1/3) (see steps #3 point b)
1 1 2
(-1/3)R2
0 3 1

1 1 2
0 1 1/3
- R1-1R2 – add 1st row with negative scalar -1 times 2nd row (see steps
#3 point c)
1 1 2
R1-1R2
0 1 1/3

1 0 5/3
0 1 1/3
- The solution is {x,y|x=5/3 and y=1/3}
2. Example #2
Let the system of linear equation be,
5
3 3 15

The augmented matrix of the system above is,

1 1 5
3 3 15

Now, we apply steps #3

- R2-3R1
1 1 5
R2-3R1
2 3 15

1 1 5
0 0 0

No unique solution available! The example above yield infinitely many

solutions!
3. Example #3
Let the system of linear equation be,
2 9
2 4 3 1
3 6 5 0

The augmented matrix of the system above is,

1 1 2 9
2 4 3 1
3 6 5 0

Now, we apply steps #3

- R2-2R1 & R3-3R1

1 1 2 9
0 2 7 17
0 3 11 27
- R3-(3/2)R2 & R1-(1/2)R2
 1 0 11/2 35/2
0 2 7 17
0 0 1/2 3/2
- 2R1 & (-2)R3
2 0 11 35
0 2 7 17
0 0 1 3
- R1-11R3 & R2+7R3
2 0 0 2
0 2 0 4
0 0 1 3
- (1/2)R1 & (1/2)R2
1 0 0 1
0 1 0 2
0 0 1 3

- The solution is {x,y,z|x=1; y=1/3; z=3}

NOTE:

Advantage:

- It’s faster to solve system of 3-unknowns and above, ain’t it?!

- It doesn’t take up that much space on your paper

But Remember:

ERO is only an alternative way, it is not the ONLY WAY! Do lots of practiceS
if you want to use ERO. It requires accuracy and correctness. Otherwise,
use methods that you are confident with such as elimination, matrix
inversion, or Cramer’s rule to solve problem of systems of n-unknowns
eventhough it take will take more time.