c1b1 ⌋

X= ⌊ =
c2b2

When used properly this method requires the least effort in solving equations.
Don’t try to memorize the letters in the determinants. Learn to build each determinant by
using the following procedure.
Write the determinant which is in the denominator of both x and y. The elements
of this determinant are the coefficients of the terms on the left sides of the equations, in
the same positions as they appear in the given standard equations. Take a look at the
given equations and write the first row as 1 and 1, and the second row as 2 and 3. The
denominators are always the same for both the value of x and the value of y.
The numerator of x is found as follows: The determinant has the same second
column as the determinant of the denominator (b1 = 1, b2 = 3), but instead of the
coefficients of x (a1= 1 and a2= 2) the constants c1 = 3 and c2 = 1 are used in the first
column.
The numerator of y is found as follows: the determinant has the same first
column as the determinant of the denominator, but the constant terms c1= 3 and c2=1
are used in the second column instead of the coefficients of y.
In general, in the denominator for both x and y, use the coefficients of x (a1 and
a2) and y (b1 and b2). In the numerator for x use the constant terms (c1 and c2) instead
of the coefficients of x (a1 and a2), and in the numerator for y, use the constant terms
(c1 and c2) instead of the coefficients of y (b1 and b2). If a term in the given equations
is missing, its value is 0 (zero) and zero should be inserted for its coefficient or for a
constant in the determinant. For example, in the following equations

*equations
 Example Problems
Problem 1 solve the following equations by determinants.
2y =29 – 3x
2x = y+ 3
Solution Before determinants can be applied, the equations must be arrange in
standard form, that is, with the terms containing x and y on the left side
and the constant terms on the right side.

*equations

Note that the coefficient— 1 was placed in the determinant together with
its sign.
As a proof, solve the given equations by any other method. The result
must be the same.
Problem 2 Solve the following equations by determinants.
5x – 2y – 6= 0
3x + 4y – 14 = 0
Solution First write the equations in standard form.
5x – 2y = 6
X = 4y = 14

*equations
Check Your Learning 1

Check - your - learning quizzes are included in this text after each important section so
that you can measure your ability to apply the rules studied in that section. Work each problem
carefully and write all the steps of the solution in your notebook. Should any of your answers
differ from ours, carefully review Arts 2 and 3 to find out why .
Your Answers

Solve the following equations by the use of determinants. 1.

1. 2x + 3y =19 2. 5x + 4y = 58 3. 3x + 5y – 8 = 0 2.
5x – 2y = 19 3x + 7y = 67 9x + 11y –20 = 0 3.

Answers to Check Your Learning 1

Determinants of the Third Order
4. Three equations with three unknowns can easily be solved by
determinants. However, for such equations determinants of the third order are
used. A determinant
of the third order consists of nine elements arranged in three rows and three
columns.

Assume that you have three simultaneous equations, each with three
unknowns. If their coefficients are literal and the equations are in standard form,
the equations will be as follows:
a1x + b1y + c1z = d1
a2x + b2y + c2z = d2
a3X + b3y + c3z = d3

The coefficients of x, y, and z and the constant terms can be arranged in the
determinants to provide solutions of these equations for x, y, and z. The solutions
are as follows:

The steps needed to solve these determinants are similar to those used to solve
determinants for two equations with two unknowns. The steps in the solution by
this method will be explained in the following article.
But first, let’s summarize how the determinants are set up for finding the
roots.
Find the denominators in the determinants for x, y, and z. The
denominator is the same for all three roots and consists of the nine coefficients of
the unknowns.
The determinant in the numerator of x has the constant terms d1, d2 and
d3 in the first column, and the other columns are the same as in the determinant
in the denominator.
The determinant in the numerator of y has the constant terms d1, d2, and
d3 in the second column, and the other columns are the same as in the
determinant in the denominator.
 The determinant in the numerator of z has the constant terms d1, d2, and
d3 in the third column, and the other columns are the same as in the determinant
in the denominator.
For example, indicate the solutions for x, y, and z in the following
equations by using determinants.

3x + 4y – 2z = 10
5x – 2y + 3z = 16
4x + 2y + 2z = 22