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2023week8 Pre
2023week8 Pre
where Cij = (−1)i+j det Aij is the (i, j)-cofactor of A, and Aij is the (i, j)-minor of A, defined as the
(n − 1) × (n − 1) matrix obtained from A by removing row i and column j.
a b c
(vii) The determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix A = d e f is
g h k
e f d f d e
det(A) = |A| = a − b
+ c .
h k g k g h
Note that this is the expansion along the first row (where the smaller determinant arises by ignoring
the row and column of the entry being used as a coefficient), but expanding along any row or column
is valid, as long as we remember to multiply the determinant of the (i, j)-minor of A by (−1)i+j . So,
for a 3 × 3 matrix, we get the following pattern of positive and negative signs:
+ − +
− + − .
+ − +
(viii) If A is triangular, in the sense that all entries above or below the diagonal are zero, then det(A) is the
product of the diagonal elements.
(ix) Determinant method for cross products: If u = u1 e1 + u2 e2 + u3 e3 and w = w1 e1 + w2 e2 + w3 e3
then
e1 e2 e3
u × w = u1 u2 u3
w1 w2 w3
= (u2 w3 − u3 w2 ) e1 − (u1 w3 − u3 w1 ) e2 + (u1 w2 − u2 w1 ) e3
= [u2 w3 − u3 w2 , u3 w1 − u1 w3 , u1 w2 − u2 w1 ].
1
Preparatory Exercises:
1. Let
1 −2 3 4 0 5 4 0 5
A= 1 3 0 , B = 1 3 0 , C = 1 3 0 .
4 0 5 1 −2 3 3 4 3
Find an elementary matrix E that satisfies (i) EA = B (ii) EB = A (iii) EB = C
4 8
2. Let A = . Find elementary matrices E1 , . . . , Ek such that Ek · · · E1 A = I2 .
1 1
3. Find the following determinants:
1 −2 1 −1 −1 1 1 0 0 2 5 4
−1 3 , −2 , , , , .
3 3 −2 0 2 1 0 3 3
2
−3 −2
4. Find the determinant −1 3 4 by expanding along the first row.
−7 −2 8
5. Now find the determinant of the previous exercise by expanding
(i) along the second row (ii) along the third row (iii) down the third column
2
Answers:
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
1. (i) E = 0 1 0 (ii) E = 0 1 0 (iii) E = 0 1 0
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1
1
0 0 1 1 0 1 −1
2. E1 = 4 , E2 = , E3 = , E4 = .
0 1 1 0 −1 1 0 1
3. 1 , 1 , −1 , 2 , −2 , 3
2 −3 −2
+ 3 −1 4 − 2 −1 3 = 64 + 60 − 46 = 78
3 4
4. −1 3 4 = 2
−7 −2 8 −2 8 −7 8 −7 −2
2 −3 −2
−3 −2
+ 3 2 −2 − 4 2 −3 = −28 + 6 + 100 = 78
5. (i) −1 3 4 =
−2 8 −7 8 −7 −2
−7 −2 8
2 −3 −2
−3 −2 2 −2 2 −3
(ii) −1 3
4 = −7
+ 2 + 8 = 42 + 12 + 24 = 78
−7 −2 8 3 4 −1 4 −1 3
2 −3 −2
−1 3 2 −3 2 −3
(iii) −1 3
4 = −2
− 4 + 8 = −46 + 100 + 24 = 78
−7 −2 8 −7 −2 −7 −2 −1 3
Copyright © Some of these tutorial exercises have been adapted from A First Course in Linear Algebra by David Easdown
and from Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction, 4th Edition by David Poole.