Properties of Determinants UAF

Properties of Determinants
In this lecture, we will study the properties of the determinants. Some of them have
already been discussed and you will be familiar with these. These properties become
helpful, while computing the values of the determinants. The secret of determinants lies
in how they change when row or column operations are performed.

Theorem 3:(Row Operations): Let A be a square matrix.

a. If a multiple of one row of A is added to another row, the resulting
determinant will remain same.
b. If two rows of A are interchanged to produce B, then det B = –det A.
c. If one row of A is multiplied by k to produce B, then det B = k . det A.

The following examples show how to use Theorem 3 to find determinants efficiently.
a. If a multiple of one row of A is added to another row, the resulting determinant
will remain same.
Example:
a11 a12 a13
  a21 a22 a23
a31 a32 a33
Multiplying 2nd row by non  zero scalar say ' k ' as
ka21 ka22 ka23    adding this in 1st row then ' A ' becomes
a11  ka21 a12  ka22 a13  ka23
 a21 a22 a23 R1  R1  kR2
a31 a32 a33

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Properties of Determinants UAF

If each element of any row(column) can be expressed as sum of two elements then the
resulting determinant can be expressed as sum of two determinants, so in this case
a11 a12 a13 ka21 ka22 ka23
  a21 a22 a23  a21 a22 a23
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32 a33
a11 a12 a13 a21 a22 a23
  a21 a22 a23  k a21 a22 a23 By using property (c) of above theorem 3.
a31 a32 a33 a31 a32 a33
If any two rows or columns in a determinant are identical then value of this determinant
is zero. So in this case R1  R2
a11 a12 a13
   a21 a22 a23  k (0)
a31 a32 a33
a11 a12 a13
 a21 a22 a23  A
a31 a32 a33

b. If two rows of A are interchanged to produce B, then det B = –det A.

Example 1:

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Properties of Determinants UAF

1 2 3 
A  5 1 1 
0 8 9 
1 2 3
Now, det A  5 1 1  1(9  8)  2(45  0)  3(40  0)  1  90  120  31
0 8 9
 2 1 3
Now interchange column 1st with 2nd we get a new matrix, B  1 5 1 
 
8 0 9 
2 1 3
det B  1 5 1  2(45  0)  1(9  8)  3(0  40)  90  1  120  31
8 0 9

c. If one row of A is multiplied by k to produce B, then det B = k . det A.

1 2 3
A  5 0 1 
0 8 9 
A 1(0  8)  2(45  0)  3(40  0)
  8  90  120  22

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Properties of Determinants UAF

MultiplingR1 by k , we get say

1k 2k 3k 
B   5 0 1 
 0 8 9 
B  k (40  0)  2k (45  0)  3k (40  0)
 40k  90k  120k  22k
k A
Example 2:
1 2 3 4
2 3 4 1
Evaluate det A 
3 4 1 2
4 1 2 3
Solution:
1 2 3 4
2 3 4 1
det A 
3 4 1 2
4 1 2 3
1 2 3 4
0 1 2 7
 by R2  R2  (2) R1 , R3  R3  (3) R1 , R4  R4  (4) R1
0 2 8 10
0 7 10 13

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Properties of Determinants UAF

1 2 7
 2 8 10 expanding from Ist column
7 10 13
1 2 7
 (1)(2)(1) 1 4 5 taking (1), (2) and  1 common from 1st , 2nd , 3rd rows
7 10 13
1 2 7
 (2) 0 2 2 by R2  R2  (1) R1 , R3  R3  (7) R1
0 4 36
2 2
 ( 2) expanding by1st column
4 36
1 1
 ( 2)(2)(4) taking 2 and (-4) common from1st and 2nd rows respectively.
1 9
1 1
 16 by R2  (1) R1
0 10
 160
4 2 5 10 
1 1 6 3 
Example 3: Evaluate the determinant of the matrix A  
7 3 0 5
 
0 2 5 8
Solution:

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Properties of Determinants UAF

4 2 5 10
1 1 6 3
det A 
7 3 0 5
0 2 5 8
1 1 6 3
4 2 5 10
 interchanging R1 and R2 ( R12 )
7 3 0 5
0 2 5 8

1 1 6 3
0 2 19 2
 By R2  R2  (4) R1 , R3  R3  (7) R1
0 4 42 16
0 2 5 8
2 19 2
  4 42 16 expanding from 1st column
2 5 8
2 19 2
3
=(-1) 4 42 16 taking (-1) as a common factor from R1 and R 2
2 5 8

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Properties of Determinants UAF

2 19 2
  4 42 16
2 5 8
1 19 2
 2 2 42 16
1 5 8
1 19 2
 (2) 0 4 12 By R2  R2  (2) R1 , R3  R3  (1) R1
0 14 6

1 19 2
 (2) 0 4 12 R2  (2) R1 , R3  (1) R1
0 14 6
4 12
 2 expand from Ist column
14 6
=  2(24+168)=  384

x a x bc
Example 4: Without expansion, show that x b x ca 0
x c x ab
Solution:

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Properties of Determinants UAF

x a x bc
x b x ca
x c x ab
x a xx bc
 x b  x  x c  a By C2  C2  C1
x c x x ab
x a bc
 x b ca
x c ab
Taking ' x ' common fromC1
1 a bc
 x1 b ca
1 c ab
1 abc bc
 x 1 b  c  a c  a By C2  C2  C3
1 cab ab
Now taking (a+b+c) common form C2

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Properties of Determinants UAF

1 1 bc
 x(a  b  c) 1 1 c  a
1 1 ab
 0 as column Ist and 2nd are identical (C1  C 2 ). So its value will be zero.
2 3 1 0 1
1 1 3 1 2
Example 5: Evaluate A  2 1 2 3 4
3 2 1 1 2
4 1 1 0 0
Solution: Interchanging R1 and R2, we get
1 1 3 1 2
2 3 1 0 1
A= - 2 1 2 3 4
3 2 1 1 2
4 1 1 0 0

R2  R2  2 R1 , R3  R3  2 R1 , R4  R4  3R1 , R5  R5  4R1

1 1 3 1 2
0 1 5 2 3
  0 1 4 1 0
0 1 8 2 4
0 3 11 4 8

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Properties of Determinants UAF

expand from C
1
1 5 2 3
1 4 1 0

1 8 2 4
3 11 4 8

R2  R2  R1 , R3  R3  R1 , R4  R4  3R1

1 5 2 3
0 9 1 3

0 13 4 7
0 26 10 17

expand from C
1
9 1 3
  13 4 7
26 10 17

taking (-1) common from Ist,2nd and 3rd row

9 1 3
= 13 4 7
26 10 17

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Properties of Determinants UAF

interchange Ist and 2nd Column(C12 )

1 9 3
= 4 13 7
10 26 17
C2  C2  9C1 , C3  C3  3C1
1 0 0
  4 23 5
10 64 13
expand from Ist row
-23 -5
=-  (299  320)  21
-64 -13

An Algorithm to evaluate the determinant:

Algorithm means a sequence of a finite number of steps to get a desired result. The word
Algorithm comes form the famous Muslim mathematician AL-Khwarizmi who invented
the word algebra.

The step-by-step evaluation of det(A) of order n is obtained as follows:

Step 1: By an interchange of rows of A (and taking the resulting sign into account) bring
a non zero entry to (1,1) the position (unless all the entries in the first column are zero in
which case det A=0).

Step 2: By adding suitable multiples of the first row to all the other rows, reduce the

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Properties of Determinants UAF

(n-1) entries, except (1,1) in the first column, to 0. Expand det(A) by its first column.
Repeat this process.
Or continue the following steps.

Step 3: Repeat step 1 and step 2 with the last remaining rows concentrating on the second
column.

Step 4: Repeat step 1,step2 and step 3 with the remaining (n-2) rows, (n-3) rows and so
on, until a triangular matrix is obtained.

Step5: Multiply all the diagonal entries of the resulting triangular matrix and then
multiply it by its sign to get det(A)

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Properties of Determinants UAF

 1 4 2 
Example 6: Compute det A, where A   2 8 9  .
 1 7 0 
Solution: The strategy is to reduce A to echelon form and then to use the fact that the
determinant of a triangular matrix is the product of the diagonal entries. The first two
row replacements in column 1 do not change the determinant:
1 4 2
det A  2 8 9
1 7 0
1 4 2
0 0 5 By R2  R2  2 R1 , R3  R1  R3
0 3 2
An interchange of rows 2 and 3 ( R 23 ), it reverses the sign of the determinant, so
1 4 2
det A   0 3 2  (1)(3)(5)  15
0 0 5

Example 7: Compute det A, where

 2 8 6 8 
 3 9 5 10 
A .
 3 0 1 2 
 
 1 4 0 6 
Solution: Taking’2’ common from 1st row

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Properties of Determinants UAF

1 4 3 4
3 9 5 10
det A  2
3 0 1 2
1 4 0 6

1 4 3 4
0 3 4 2
det A  2 By R2  R2  3R1 , R3  R3  3R1 , R4  R4  R1
0 0 6 2
0 0 3 2
1 4 3 4
0 3 4 2
det A  2 ( By R4  R4  12 R3 )
0 0 6 2
0 0 0 1
 2.{(1)(3)(6)(1)}  36

x 2 2 2
2 x 2 2
Example 8: Show that  ( x  6)( x  2)3
2 2 x 2
2 2 2 x
Solution:

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Properties of Determinants UAF

x 2 2 2
2 x 2 2
2 2 x 2
2 2 2 x
x6 2 2 2
x6 x 2 2
 By C1  C1  (C2  C3  C4 )
x6 2 x 2
x6 2 2 x
Taking (x+6) common from 1st column
1 2 2 2
1 x 2 2
 ( x  6)
1 2 x 2
1 2 2 x

1 2 2 2
0 x2 0 0
 ( x  6) By R2  R2  R1 , R3  R3  R1 , R4  R4  R1
0 0 x2 0
0 0 0 x2
which is the triangular matrix and its determinant is the prodcut of main diagonal’s entries.
 ( x  6)( x  2)3

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Properties of Determinants UAF

 3 1 2 5 
 0 5 3 6 
Example 9: Compute det A, where A   .
 6 7 7 4 
 
  5 8 0 9 
 3 1 2 5 
 0 5 3 6 
Solution: A   
 6 7 7 4 
 
  5 8 0 9 
 3 1 2 5 
 0 5 3 6 
det A    R   R3  2 R1
 0 5 3 6  3
 
 5 8 0 9 
=0 as R2  R3
Example10: Compute det A, where
0 1 2 1
 2 5 7 3 
A 
0 3 6 2
 
  2  5 4 2 
Solution:

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Properties of Determinants UAF

 0 1 2 1
 2 5 7 3 
A 
0 3 6 2
 
 2 5 4 2 
 0 1 2 1
 2 5 7 3 
  R   R4  R2
0 3 6 2  4
 
 0 0 3 1 
 2 1 2 1
 0 5 7 3 
 (1)   By R12
0 3 6 2 
 
 0 0 3 1 
Expanding from 1st row and 1st column

5 7 3
2 3 6 2
0 3 1
  2  {5(6  6)  (7)(3  0)  3(9  0)}
 54

Remarks:
Suppose that a square matrix A has been reduced to an echelon form U by row
replacements and row interchanges.

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Properties of Determinants UAF

If there are r interchanges, then det( A)  (1) r det(U )

Furthermore, all of the pivots are still visible in U (because they have not been scaled to
ones). If A is invertible, then the pivots in U are on the diagonal (since A is row
equivalent to the identity matrix). In this case, det U is the product of the pivots. If A is
not invertible, then U has a row of zero and det U = 0.
   
0   0  
U   U  
0 0   0 0  
   
0 0 0  0 0 0 0 
det U  0 det U  0

Thus we have the following formula:

(1) r .( Product of pivots inU ) When Ais invertible
det A   (1)
0 When Ais not invertible
Example:
Case-01: For 2  2 invertible matrix
Reducing given 2  2 invertible matrix into Echelon form as follows;
4 5
A 
3 2
By interchanging 1st and 2nd rows( R12 )

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Properties of Determinants UAF

3 2
 4 5  one replacement of rows has occurred,  r  1
 
3 2  3 2 
  4
By R2  R2  R1 , we have desired row-echelon form: U   7  .
0 7  3  0
 3  3
Thus using the above formula as follows;
7
det A  (1) r .( Product of pivots inU )  (1)1 (3  )  7
3
Case-02: For 2  2 non-invertible matrix:
In this case say;
4 5 
A 
8 10 
4 5 4 5
0 0 By R2  R2  2 R1 ,desired row-echelon form is U   
  0 0

Here no interchange of rows has occurred. So, r  0 and

 det A  (1)r .( Product of pivots inU )  (1)0 (4  0)  0

Theorem 5: If A is an n  n matrix, then det AT = det A.

1 4 1 
Example 11: If A   2 1 2  , find det(A) and det (AT )
 
 3 1 3 

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Properties of Determinants UAF

1 4 1
det A  2 1 2  1(3  2)  4(6  6)  1(2  3)  1  0  1  0
3 1 3
Now
 1 2 3
A   4 1 1
t

1 2 3
1 2 3
det At  4 1 1  1(3  2)  2(12  1)  3(8  1)  1  22  21  0
1 2 3

Remark:
Column operations are useful for both theoretical purposes and hand computations.
However, for simplicity we’ll perform only row operations in numerical calculations.

Theorem 6 (Multiplicative Property):

If A and B are n  n matrices, then det( AB)  (det A)(det B) .

6 1   4 3
Example 12: Verify Theorem 6 for A    and B 
3 2 1 2

20
Properties of Determinants UAF

6 1   4 3   25 20 
Solution: AB     
 3 2  1 2  14 13 
and det AB  25.13  20.14  325  280  45

Since det A = 9 and det B = 5, (det A)(det B)  9.5  45  det AB

Remark:
det (A + B)  det A + det B, in general.
For example,
2 3   2 3
If A    and B    . Then
1 5  1 5 
0 0
A B     det( A  B)  0
0 0
2 3 2 3
det A  det B    (10  3)  (10  3)  26  det( A  B)
1 5 1 5

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Properties of Determinants UAF

Exercise:

Find the determinants in exercises 1 to 6 by row reduction to echelon form.

1 3 0 2 1 3 3 4
2 5 7 4 0 1 2 5
1. 2.
3 5 2 1 2 5 4 3
1 1 2 3 3 7 5 2

1 3 1 0 2
1 1 3 0
0 2 4 1 6
0 1 5 4
3. 4. 2 6 2 3 9
1 2 8 5
3 7 3 8 7
3 1 2 3
3 5 5 2 7

1 3 1 5 3
1 2 3 1
2 7 0 4 2
5 9 6 3
5. 6. 0 0 1 0 1
1 2 6 2
0 0 2 1 1
2 8 6 1
0 0 0 1 1

Combine the methods of row reduction and cofactor expansion to compute the
determinants in exercises 7 and 8.

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Properties of Determinants UAF

2 5 3 1 2 5 4 1
3 0 1 3 4 7 6 2
7. 8.
6 0 4 9 6 2 4 0
4 10 4 1 6 7 7 0

2 0 0 8
 1 7 5 0 
9. Use determinant to find out whether the matrix is invertible 
3 8 6 0
 
0 7 5 4

10. Let A and B be 3 x 3 matrices, with det A = 4 and det B = -3. Use properties of
determinants to compute:

(a) det AB (b) det 7A (c) det BT (d) det AT

(e) det ATA

11 Show that
a1 b1 a1  b1  c1 a1 b1 c1
(a) a2 b2 a2  b2  c2  a2 b2 c2
a3 b3 a3  b3  c3 a3 b3 c3
a1  b1 a1  b1 c1 a1 b1 c1
(b) a2  b2 a2  b2 c2  2 a2 b2 c2
a3  b3 a3  b3 c3 a3 b3 c3

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Properties of Determinants UAF

12 Show that
a1  b1t a2  b2t a3  b3t a1 a2 a3
(a) a1t  b1 a2t  b2 a3t  b3  (1  t ) b1 b2
2
b3
c1 c2 c3 c1 c2 c3

a1 b1  ta1 c1  rb1  sa1 a1 a2 a3

(b) a2 b2  ta2 c2  rb2  sa2  b1 b2 b3
a3 b3  ta3 c3  rb3  sa3 c1 c2 c3

1 x x2
13. Show that 1 y y 2  ( y  x)( z  x)( z  y )
1 z z2

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