How do you find the determinant of ((1, 2, 1), (0, 4, 3), (1, 2, 2))?

2 Answers
Mar 11, 2016

det=4

Explanation:

D=1|(4,3),(2,2)| -2|(0,3),(1,2)|+1|(0,4),(1,2)|

=1(8-6)-2(0-3)+1(0-4)-use Cramer's rule |(r,s),(t,u)| = ru-st

=2+6-4
det=4

Mar 11, 2016

Use alternative method to find determinant is 4

Explanation:

Use two properties of determinants:

  1. The determinant of a matrix is unchanged by adding any multiple of a row to another row.
  2. The determinant of an upper triangular matrix is the product of the diagonal.

Given:

((1, 2, 1), (0, 4, 3), (1, 2, 2))

Subtract the first row from the third (i.e. add -1 times the first row to the third) to get:

((1, 2, 1), (0, 4, 3), (0, 0, 1))

The determinant of this upper triangular matrix is the product of the diagonal:

1 xx 4 xx 1 = 4