Notes

Chapter-4
Determinants

Notes by
Rajesh Sarswat
Education Point
Shipra Sun City,
Indirapuram, Ghaziabad
9810307106
 Chapter-4
Determinant

1. Determinant: The determinant of a matrix is a special number that can be calculated

from a square matrix.

A Matrix is an array of numbers:

A Matrix
(This one has 2 Rows and 2 Columns)

The determinant of that matrix is (calculations are explained later):

3×6 − 8×4 = 18 − 32 = −14

What is it for?
The determinant tells us things about the matrix that are useful in systems of linear
equations, helps us find the inverse of a matrix, is useful in calculus and more.

Symbol
The symbol for determinant is two vertical lines either side.

Example:

|A| means the determinant of the matrix A

(Exactly the same symbol as absolute value.)

Determinant of a Matrix
 Chapter-4
Determinant

Calculating the Determinant

First of all the matrix must be square (i.e. have the same number of rows as columns).
Then it is just basic arithmetic. Here is how:

For a 2×2 Matrix

For a 2×2 matrix (2 rows and 2 columns):

The determinant is:

|A| = ad − bc

For a 3×3 Matrix

For a 3×3 matrix (3 rows and 3 columns):

The determinant is:

|A| = a(ei − fh) − b(di − fg) + c(dh − eg)

As a formula (remember the vertical bars || mean "determinant of"):

Determinant of a Matrix
 Chapter-4
Determinant

Example:

|C| = 6×(−2×7 − 5×8) − 1×(4×7 − 5×2) + 1×(4×8 − (−2×2))

= 6×(−54) − 1×(18) + 1×(36)

= −306

2. Area of a Triangle

We have studied in co-ordinate geometry that the area of a triangle whose

vertices are (x1, y1), (x2, y2) and (x3, y3), is given by the expression 1 2 [x1(y2–
y3) + x2 (y3–y1) + x3 (y1–y2)]. This expression can also be written in the form
of a determinant as:

Points to Note:
(i) Since area is a positive quantity, we always take the absolute value of the determinant
while calculating the value of area by using the above formula.
(ii) If area is given, use both positive and negative values of the determinant for calculation.
(iii) The area of the triangle formed by three collinear points is zero.

Determinant of a Matrix
 Chapter-4
Determinant

3. Properties of Determinants:-
Property-1 : Determinant of a matrix is same as the determinant of its transpose.
|A′| = |A|, where A′ = transpose of A.

Property 2: If all the elements of a row (column) of a determinant are zeros, then the
value of that determinant is also zero.

Property 3: If we interchange any two rows (or columns), then sign of determinant
changes.

Property 4 : If any two rows or any two columns are identical or proportional, then
value of determinant is zero.

Property 5 : Multiplying a determinant by k means multiply elements of only one row

(or one column) by k.

If A is a square matrix of order n, then

Property 6: If all the elements of a determinant above or below the main diagonal
consists of zeros, then the value of the determinant is equal to the product of diagonal
elements.

Determinants class 12 Notes Mathematics

 Chapter-4
Determinant

Property 7: If the elements of a row (column) of a determinant are sums of two elements
then the determinant can be expressed as the sum of two determinants. That is for
example,

Property 8: If to each element of a row or a column of a determinant the equimultiples of

corresponding elements of other rows or columns are added, then value of determinant
remains same. It is written as Ci→Ci + k Cj or Ri→Ri + k Rj.
Property 9: Determinant of Identity matrix is 1.

Property 10 : Determinant of a null matrix of any order is zero.

4. Minors and co-factors

Determinants class 12 Notes Mathematics

 Chapter-4
Determinant

5. Adjoint and inverse of a matrix

(x) If A is a square matrix of order n, then |A| n = |A. adj(A)| .

(xi) For two square matrix A and B of the same order, we have (AB) -1 = B -1 .A -
1

Determinants class 12 Notes Mathematics

 Chapter-4
Determinant

6. Solution of system of linear equations using inverse of a matrix

Case II If A is a singular matrix, then |A| = 0.

In this case, we calculate (adj A) B.

If (adj A) B ≠ O, (O being zero matrix), then solution does not exist and the system of
equations is called inconsistent.

If (adj A) B = O, then system have infinitely many solutions and is called consistent.

Determinants class 12 Notes Mathematics