LESSON

4
DETERMINANTS

1. DETERMINANTS

1.1 EVALUATION OF DETERMINANTS

a1 b1
Determinants of second order: The symbol consisting of 22 numbers called
a2 b2
elements, arranged in two rows and two columns, is called a determinant of second order. The
elements a1 and b2 are said to lie along the principal diagonal; the elements a2 and b1 are said to
lie along the secondary diagonal.
The value of the determinant is obtained by forming the product of the elements along the principal
diagonal and subtracting from it the product of the elements along the secondary diagonal.
a1 b1
Thus  a1 b2  a 2 b1 ... (i)
a2 b2

a1 b1 c1
Determinants of third order: The symbol a2 b2 c 2 consisting of 32 elements arranged
a3 b3 c3
in three rows and three columns, is called a determinant of third order. Its value is
a1b2c3 + a2b3c1 + a3b1c2  a1b3c2  a2b1c3  a3b2c1
This may be written as a1 (b2c3  b3c2)  b1 (a2c3  a3c2) + c1 (a2b3  a3b2)
b2 c2 a c2 a2 b2
or a1 b1 2  c1
b3 c3 a3 c3 a3 b3

We can therefore write

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a1 b1 c1
b c2 a c2 a b2
a2 b2 c 2  a1 2  b1 2  c1 2 ... (ii)
b3 c3 a3 c3 a3 b3
a3 b3 c3

Note that each term of a second order determinant is the product of two quantities and
each term of a third order determinant is the product of three quantities.

1.2 MINORS
The minor of a given element of a determinant is the determinant of the elements which
remain after deleting the row and the column in which the given element occurs.
b2 c2 a c1
For example, the minor of a1 in (ii) is , and the minor of b2 in (ii) is 1
b3 c3 a3 c3

The minor of a1 in (i) is b2 and b2 may be considered a determinant of first order. Similarly,
the minor of a2 is b1.
1.3 COFACTORS
In (ii), the elements a1, b1, c1 are multiplied by
b2 c2 a c2 a b2
, 2 , 2
b3 c3 a3 c3 a3 b3

These expressions are called the cofactors of the elements a1, b1, c1.
Generally, the cofactor of an element is its minor with its sign or opposite sign prefixed in
accordance with the following rule:
For any determinant if aij be the element at the intersection of the ith row and jth column,
then the cofactor of aij has positive sign or negative sign before minor of aij according as i + j is
even or odd. The determinant may be expanded along any chosen row or column.
The cofactors of the elements a1, b1, c1, a2, b2, c2, a3, b3, c3 will be denoted by A1, B1, C1,
A2, B2, C2, A3, B3, C3 respectively.
For example, element b3 in (ii) lies at the intersection of the third row and the second
column. Since 3 + 2 = 5 is an odd number, we have
a1 c1
B3  
a2 c2

a1 c1
The cofactor B2 of the element b2 is  , because element b2 lies at the intersection
a3 c3
of the second row and the second column, and 2 + 2 = 4 is an even number.
Let the determinant (ii) be denoted by . When the cofactors are used, the expansion of
the determinant takes the compact form:
 = a1A1 + b1B1 + c1C1 = a2A2 + b2B2 + c2C2 = a3A3 + b3B3 + c3C3.
 = a1A1 + a2A2 + a3A3 = b1B1 + b2B2 + b3B3 = c1C1 + c2C2 + c3C3
and a2A1 + b2B1 + c2C1 = 0 = a2A3 + b2B3 + c2C3 etc.

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Illustration 1

Question: Evaluate the determinant

2 3 4
 = 5 2 1 .
1 2 3

Solution: Expanding along the second row, we have

3 4 2 4 2 3
  5 2 1
2 3 1 3 1 2

=  5 (9  8)  2 (6  4)  1 (4  3)
=  5  4  1 =  10.
Expanding along the third column, we have
5 2 2 3 2 3
4 1 3
1 2 1 2 5 2

= 4 (10 + 2)  1 (4  3) + 3 (  4  15)
= 48  1  57 =  10.

2. PROPERTIES OF DETERMINANTS

1. If two rows in a determinant are interchanged, the sign of the determinant changes. For
a b1
example, by interchanging the two rows of the determinant 1 , we get the determinant
a 2 b2
a2 b2
a1 b1

a2 b2 a b1
But we have = 1
a1 b1 a2 b2

2. If the numbers in one row are added, m times the numbers in another row, the value of the
determinant remains unaltered.
a1 ma2 b1 mb2 a b1
For example,  1
a2 b2 a2 b2

This rule can be extended to more number of rows for higher order determinants.
3. If rows and columns are interchanged, the value of the determinant remains unaltered.
a1 b1 a a2
For example,  1
a2 b2 b1 b2

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Another way of saying this is that it makes no difference if we reflect the numbers of the
determinant in the line of the principal diagonal. This means that any statement that can truly be
made about rows in particular results (1) and (2) can equally well be made about columns.

4. If all the numbers in any row are zeros, the value of the determinant is zero.
a1 b1 c1
For example, 0 0 0 0
a3 b3 c3

5. If two rows are identical, the value of the determinant is zero.

a1 b1 c1
For example, a 2 b2 c2  0
a1 b1 c1

6. If the elements of a row are multiplied by any number m, the determinant is multiplied by m.
ma1 mb1 mc1 a1 b1 c1
For example, a 2 b2 c 2  m a2 b2 c2
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3

7. Row-Column Operations : The value of determinant remains unchanged when any row (or
column) is multiplied by a number or any expression and then added or subtracted from
any other row (or column).
a1 a 2 a3 a1  ma 2  na 3 a2 a3
i.e. b1 b2 b3  b1  mb2  nb3 b2 b3
c1 c 2 c3 c1  mc 2  nc 3 c2 c3

The above operation is written as C1  C1  mC 2  nC 3 means C1 is replaced by

C1  mC 2  nC 3 .

Illustration 2

Question: Show that

1 a a2
1 b b 2 = (a  b) (b  c) (c  a).
1 c c2

1 a a2
Solution: Let  = 1 b b 2
1 c c2

If b is put equal to a, two rows are exactly alike.

  = 0 when b = a
 (a  b) is a factor of  (This follows from the factor theorem which states that for f(x), if
f(a) = 0, then (x  a) is a factor of f(x)).

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Similarly (b  c) and (c  a) are factors.

Again,  is of the third degree in a, b and c.
And we know already three linear factors (a  b), (b  c) and (c  a). If there is another
factor, it must be a mere number.

1 a a2
Thus 1 b b 2 = N (a  b) (b  c) (c  a), where N is a number.
1 c c2

By equating coefficients of bc on both sides, N = 1

2

  = (a  b) (b  c) (c  a).
Alternative method:

1 a a2
 = 1 b b2
1 c c2

Subtracting the second row from the first and then the third row from the second, we have

0 a b a 2 b 2 0 1 a b
 = 0 b c b 2 c 2 = (a  b) (b  c) 0 1 b c
1 c c2 1 c c2

Now expanding along the first column, we have

 = (a  b) (b  c) [(b + c)  (a + b)] = (a  b) (b  c) (c  a).

Illustration 3

Question: Show that

b c c b
= c ca a = 4abc.
b a b a

Solution:
2(b c ) 2(c a ) 2(a b )
= c c a a by R1 : R1 + R2 + R3
b a ab

Now take 2 as a common factor and then apply R2 : R2  R1 and R3 : R3  R1

b c c a a  b
 = 2 b 0 b
c c 0

Now apply C2 : C2  C1

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b c a b a  b
 = 2 b b b
c 0 0

Now expand through R3

 = 2[(c) { ab + b  ab  b }] = 4abc
2 2

Illustration 4

1 1 1
Question: Show that  = a b c 0.
a 2 bc b 2 ca c 2 ab

Solution: C1 : C1  C 2 and C 2 : C 2  C 3

0 0 1
ab bc c
a b c(ab ) b c a(bc ) c ab
2 2 2 2 2

0 0 1
i.e., (a  b) (b  c) 1 1 c
abc bc a c 2 ab

i.e., (a  b) (b  c) [(b + c + a)  (a + b + c)] = 0.

Note: If a determinant can be so transformed that two elements in a row or column are
made zero, then the determinant can be expanded in terms of that row or column.

Illustration 5

1 a a2 1 bc b c
Question: Show that 1 b b2  1 ca c  a .
1 c c2 1 ab a  b

1 bc b c 1 bc a b c a
Solution: We have 1 ca c a  1 ca a b c b
1 ab a b 1 ab a b c c

1 bc a b c 1 bc a
 1 ca a b c  1 ca b
1 ab a b c 1 ab c

1 bc 1 bc 1 a
= (a + b + c) 1 ca 1  ca 1 b
1 ab 1 ab 1 c

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bc 1 a
 ca 1 b , since the first determinant vanishes
ab 1 c

abc a a 2 1 a a2
1 abc
 abc b b 2  1 b b2
abc abc
abc c c 2
1 c c2

3. AREA OF A TRIANGLE

In earlier classes, we have studied that the area of triangle whose vertices are
x1, y 1 , x 2 , y 2  and x 3 , y 3  is given by the expression 1 [ x1 y 2  y 3   x 2 y 3  y 1   x 3 y 1  y 2 ] .
2
Now this expression can be written in the form of a determinant as
x1 y1 1
1
 x2 y2 1 …(i)
2
x3 y3 1

Remarks
(i) Since area is a positive quantity, we always take the absolute value of the
determinant in (i).
(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.

Illustration 6

Question: Find the area of the triangle whose vertices are (3, 8), (–4, 2) and (5, 1).
3 8 1
1
Solution: The area of triangle is given by   4 2 1
2
5 1 1

[32  1  8 4  5   1 4  10 ]  3  72  14  

1 1 61

2 2 2

Illustration 7

Question: Find the equation of the line joining A(1, 3) and B(0, 0) using determinants and find k
if D(k, 0) is a point such that area of triangle ABD is 3 sq. units.

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Solution: Let P (x, y) be any point on AB.

Then the area of triangle ABP is zero.
0 0 1
1
So, 1 3 1 0
2
x y 1

This gives
1
y  3 x   0 or y  3 x , which is the equation of required line AB.
2
Also, since the area of the triangle ABD is 3 sq. units, we have
1 3 1
1
0 0 1  3
2
k 0 1

3k
This gives,  3 , i.e., k  2
2

4. ADJOINT OF A SQUARE MATRIX

Let A = [aij]nn be any n  n matrix. The transpose B of the matrix B = [Cij]nn, where Cij
denotes the cofactor of the element aij in the determinant | A |, is called the adjoint of the matrix A
and is denoted by the symbol adj A.

Illustration 8

 
Question: If A    , then find adj A.
  
Solution: In | A |, the cofactor of  is  and the cofactor of  is . Also the cofactor of  is  and the
cofactor of  is . Therefore the matrix B formed of the cofactor of the elements of | A | is
   
B 
   

   
Now Adj A = the transpose of the matrix B =  
   

5. INVERSE OR RECIPROCAL OF A MATRIX

Let A be any n-rowed square matrix. Then a matrix B, if it exists, such that AB = BA = In is
called inverse of A.
The necessary and sufficient condition for a square matrix A to possess the inverse is that
| A |  0.

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1
If A be an invertible matrix, then the inverse of A is Adj. A. It is usual to denote the
|A|
inverse of A by A1.

5.1 PROPERTIES
(i) (AB)1 = B1 A1 , (ii) (A)1 = (A1) (iii) (A1) = (A)1,   R

Illustration 9

0 1 2 
Question: Find the inverse of the matrix A   1 2 3 .
3 1 1

Solution: We have
0 1 2 0 1 0
| A |  1 2 3  1 2  1 , applying C3  C3  2C2
3 1 1 3 1 1

1 1
= 1 , expanding the determinant along the first
3 1

= 2
Since | A |  0 , therefore A1 exists.
2 3 1 3 1 2
Now the cofactors of the elements of the first row of | A | are , ,
1 1 3 1 3 1

i.e. , are 1 , 8 , 5 respectively.

1 2 0 2 0 1
The cofactors of the elements of the second row of | A | are  , ,
1 1 3 1 3 1

i.e. , are 1, 6, 3 respectively.

1 2 0 2 0 1
The cofactors of the elements of the third row of | A | are ,  ,
2 3 1 3 1 2

i.e. , are 1, 2, 1 respectively.

Therefore the Adj. A = the transpose of the matrix B where
 1 8  5   1 1  1
   
B   1 6 3   Adj. A   8  6 2 
 1 2  1  5 3  1

1
Now A 1  Adj. A and here | A | = 2.
|A|

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  1 1  1  1 / 2  1 / 2 1 / 2 
1 1   
 A    8 6 2   4 3 1 
2
 5 3  1  5 / 2  3 / 2 1 / 2 

6. SINGULAR AND NON-SINGULAR MATRICES

A square matrix A is said to be non-singular or singular according as | A |  0 or | A | = 0.

7. SOLUTION OF SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS USING INVERSE

OF A MATRIX

Let us express the system of linear equations as matrix equations and solve them using
inverse of the matrix.
Consider the system of equations
a1 x  b1 y  c 1z  d 1 ,

a 2 x  b2 y  c 2 z  d 2 and a 3 x  b3 y  c 3 z  d 3

 a1 b1 c1  x  d1 
Let A  a 2 b2 c 2 , X   y  and B  d 2 
  
a 3 b3 c 3   z  d 3 

Then the system of equations can be written as AX  B , i.e.,

 a1 b1 c1  x  d1 
     
a 2 b2 c2   y   d 2 
a 3 b3 c 3   z  d 3 

Case I:
If A is a nonsingular matrix, then its inverse exists.
Now AX  B
or A 1 AX   A 1B or A 1 A X  A 1B 
or IX  A 1B or X  A 1B
This matrix equation provides unique solution for the given system of equations as inverse
of a matrix is unique. This method of solving system of equations is known as Matrix Method.

Case II:
If A is a singular matrix, then | A | 0
In this case, we calculate adj A B

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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 may be either consistent or inconsistent according as the
system have either infinitely many solutions or no solution.
Note: If a system of equations has at least one solution, then system is called consistent.
If a system of equations has no solution, then system is called inconsistent.

Illustration 10

Question: Solve the following system of equations by matrix method

3 x  2 y  3z  8, 2 x  y  z  1 and 4 x  3 y  2z  4 .

Solution: Given the equations in the form AX  B , where

3  2 3  x 8 
     
A  2 1  1, X   y  and B   1
4  3 2   z  4

Now, A  32  3   24  4   3 6  4   17  0

Hence A is non-singular and so its inverse exists.

Now A11  1, A12  8, A13  10
A21  5, A22  6, A23  1

A31  1, A32  9, A33  7

  1  5  1
1  
Therefore A1   8 6 9 
17 
 10 1 7 

  1  5  1 8 
So X  A B     8  6 9   1
11 
17
 10 1 7  4

x   17  1
i.e.,  y       
1
17  34  2
 z    51 3

Hence x  1, y  2 and z  3

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PRACTICE PROBLEMS
PP1. Evaluate the determinant
265 240 219
240 225 198
219 198 181
x 3 6 2 x 7 4 5 x
PP2. If 3 6 x  x 7 2  5 x 3 0
6 x 3 7 2 x x 4 5
Then what is the value of x?

1 2 3 
 
PP3. Find the adjoint of the matrix 2 3 2 .
3 3 4
5 3 8
PP4. Using cofactors of elements of second row, evaluate   2 0 1 .
1 2 3
PP5. If the equation x = ay + z, y = az + x and z = ax + y are the consistent having non-trivial
solution, then prove that a + 3a = 0.
3

x2  x x3 x4 1
PP6. If f x   2 x  1 3 x 2 4 x 3 , then find the coefficient of x in f x  .
2 6x 12 x 2
PP7. If the system of equations
3x + 10y + 17z = 0, x + 6y + 13z = 0 and 20x  13y + z = 0 has a non-trivial solution then
find the solution.
 1  1 1
PP8. If A    , show that A  3 A  4I 2  O and hence find A .
2

 2  2 
3 2  6 7 
 , verify that AB   B A
1 1 1
PP9. If A   , B  
7 5  8 9 
3 2 1
PP10. If A    , find the values of a and b such that A  aA  bI  O . Hence find A .
2

 1 1
 1  1  2 4
PP11. If A    and B    , verify that adj AB   adj B adj A 
0 3   3 0
PP12. Using matrices solve the equations 2 x  5 y  1, 3 x  2y  7 .
PP13. Using matrices solve the equations 3 x  y  z  5, 2 x  2 y  3z  7 and x  y  z  1 .

PP14. If area of triangle is 35 sq. units with vertices (2, –6), (5, 3) and (k, 4). Find the value of k.
1 1
PP15. Show that the points (a, 0), (0, b) and (1, 1) are collinear, if   1.
a b

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

SOLVED SUBJECTIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1:
Show that
b  c c a ab
c  a ab bc  0 .
a b bc c a

Solution:
b  c c a ab
Let   c  a a  b b  c
a b bc c a

Applying C1  C1  C2  C3 we get

0 c a ab
  0 ab bc  0 [ C1 consists of all zeros]
0 bc c a

Example 2:
Show that
bc ab a
c  a b  c b  3abc  a 3  b 3  c 3 .
ab ca c

Solution:
bc ab a bc b a
Let  = c  a b  c b = c a c b Applying C 2  C 2  C 3
ab c a c ab a c

c b a
=  a c b Applying C1  C1  C 2
b a c

= [a 3  b 3  c 3  3abc ] by circulate determinant.

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

Example 3:
Without expanding the determinant at any stage, show that

x2 x x 1 x 2
2x 2  3x  1 3x 3 x  3  xA  B,
2
x  2x  3 2x  1 2x  1

where A and B are determinants of third order independent of x.

Solution:
Let  stand for the given determinant. Let us add the elements of the third row to the corresponding
elements of the first row.

2x 2  3 x  3 3 x 3 x  3
Then  = 2 x 2  3 x  1 3 x 3 x  3
x 2  2 x  3 2 x 1 2 x  1

2x 2  3 x 3 x 3 x  3 3 3x 3x  3
= 2x  3 x 3 x 3 x  3   1 3 x
2
3x  3
x  2 x 2 x 1 2 x  1
2
3 2x  1 2x  1

The first determinant vanishes since two rows are identical.

3 3x 3x  3
   1 3 x 3x  3
3 2x  1 2x  1

Subtracting the third column from the second column, we have

3 3 3x  3 3 3 3x 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
  1 3 3 x  3  1 3 3 x  1 3 3  x 1 3 3  1 3 3
3 0 2x  1 3 0 2x 3 0 1 3 0 2 3 0 1

Example 4:
Solve for x:
4x 6x  2 8x  1
6x  2 9x  3 12 x 0.
8 x  1 12 x 16 x  2

Solution:
4x 6x  2 8x  1
Let   6x  2 9x  3 12 x
8 x  1 12 x 16 x  2

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

4x 6x  2 8x  1
Subtracting twice the first row from the third row, we have   6 x  2 9 x  3 12 x
1 4 0

4x 6x  2 8x  1
3 3
Now subtracting times the first row from the second row, we have   2 0 
2 2
1 4 0

Now adding 4 times the first column to the second column, we have

4x 22 x  2 8x  1
3
 2 8 
2
1 0 0

Expanding along the third row, we have

3
= (22x + 2)  8(8x + 1) =  33x  3  64x  8 =  97x  11
2
11
The given equation now becomes  97x  11 = 0 or x = 
97

Example 5:
If a, b, c are unequal and

a a2 1 a3
b b2 1 b3 = 0, find the value of abc.
c c2 1 c3

Solution:
a a2 1 a3
Let  = b b 2 1 b3
c c2 1 c3

a a2 1 a a2 a3
Then  = b b 2 1  b b2 b3
c c2 1 c c2 c3

1 a a2 a a2 1
The second determinant = abc 1 b b 2 = abc b b 2 1
1 c c2 c c2 1

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

a a2 1
  = (1 + abc) b b 2 1
c c2 1

= (1 + abc) (a  b) (b  c) (c  a)

  = 0 means that (1 + abc) (a  b) (b  c) (c  a) = 0

Since a, b, c are all unequal, none of the factors a  b, b  c, c  a can be zero.

 we have 1 + abc = 0 or abc =  1

Example 6:
Without expanding evaluate the determinant

a x
 a x  a
2 x
 a x 
2
1
a y
 ay  a
2 y
 ay 
2
1 , where a  0 and x , y , z  R .
a z
a z 2
 a z
a z 2
 1

Solution:
Let  be the given determinant. Then applying C1  C1  C2 , we get

4 a x
 a x 2
1
 4 a y
a y 2
 1 [using a  b   a  b   4ab ]
2 2

4 a z
z z 2
 1

1 a x
 a x 2
1
 1 a
y
a 
y 2
1 (taking out 4 common from C1 )
1 a z
a 
z 2
1

 40  0 [ C1 and C2 are identical]

Example 7:
Use matrix method to solve the following system of equations:
x  2 y  4  0 , 3 x  5 y  7  0 .

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

Solution:
Given the equations x  2y  4

3 x  5 y  7

 1  2  x   4 
or     
 3 5   y   7
or AX  B , where
 1  2 x
A , X   
 3 5  y 

4
and B   
 7

 1  2
Now A     5  6  1  0
 3 5 

So, the given system has a unique solution, given by X  A 1B .

Let Cij be the co-factors of elements aij in A  [aij ] . Then

C11   1 5  5, C12   1  3  3, C21   121 2  2

11 1 2

and C22   1
2 2
1 1
T
5 3 5 2
 adj A     
2 1 3 1

1 1 5 2  5  2
A 1  adj A  
 1 3 1  3  1
So
|A|

 X  A 1B
 5  2  4   20 14  6
 X     
 3  1  7   12 7    5

 x   6
   
 y   5
 x  6 and y  5

Hence x  6 and y  5 is the required solution.

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

Example 8:
1 log x y log x z
Find the value of logy x 1 logy z given that x > 0, y > 0, z > 0.
logz x logz y 1

Solution:
The determinant is equal to

log10 y log10 z
1
log10 x log10 x
log10 x log10 y log10 z
log10 x log10 z 1 1 1
1    log10 x log10 y log10 z
log10 y log10 y log10 x log10 y log10 z
log10 x log10 y log10 z
log10 x log10 y
1
log10 z log10 z

1
=  0 = 0.
log10 x  log10 y  log10 z

Example 9:
Solve the following system of homogeneous equations:
2 x  3 y  z  0, x  y  2z  0 and 3 x  y  3z  0 .

Solution:
2 3  1  x  0
     
The given equation  1  1  2  y   0
3 1 3   x  0

2 3  1 x 0
     
or AX  O , where A   1  1  2, X   y  and O  0
3 1 3   z  0

2 3 1
Now A  1  1  2  2 3  2  33  6   11  3 
3 1 3

 2  27  4  33  0
Thus | A | 0

So, the given system has only the trivial solution given by x  y  z  0 .

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORYEDUCATION

Example 10:
1 a1 1 1
 1 1 1 
Prove that 1 1 a 2 1 = a1a2a3  1    

 a 1 a 2 a 3 
1 1 1 a 3
Solution:
1 1 1
1
a1 a2 a3
1 1 1 1
  a1a 2 a 3 1 by C1 : C1  C1 etc.
a1 a2 a3 a1
1 1 1
1
a1 a2 a3

1 1 1 1 1
  1
a1 a2 a3 a2 a3
1 1 1 1 1
 a1a 2 a 3   1 1 by C1 : C1  C 2  C 3
a1 a2 a3 a2 a3
1 1 1 1 1
  1 1
a1 a2 a3 a2 a3

1 1
1
a2 a3
 1 1 1  1 1
 a1 a2 a3     1 1 1 by taking out a common factor from C1
a
 1 a 2 a 3  a 2 a 3
1 1
1 1
a2 a3
1 1
1
 1  a2 a3
1 1
 a1a 2 a 3     1 0 1 0 by R2: R2 – R1 and R3: R3 – R1
a
 1 a 2 a 3  0 0 1

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

EXERCISE – I

x 3 7
1. If x  9 is a root of 2 x 2  0 , find other roots.
7 6 x

2. Without expanding show that the value of each determinant is zero.

9 9 12 sin  cos  sin   
(i) 1 3 4 (ii) sin  cos  sin   
1 9 12 sin  cos  sin   

ab bc ca a b c

3. Show that b  c c  a a  b  2 b c a
ca ab bc c a b

abc a b
4. c b  c  2a b  2a  b  c  .
3
Show that
c a c  a  2b

1 a a2
5. Show that a 2 1 a  2
 a3  1 .
a a2 1

xy x x
6. Show that 5 x  4 y 4 x 2x  x 3 .
10 x  8 y 8x 3x
1 xy x2  y 2
7. Show that 1 y  z y 2  z 2  x  y y  z z  x  .
1 zx z2  x2

1 1 1
m ( m 1) (m 2)
8. Find the value of the determinant C1 C1 C1 .
m ( m 1) (m 2)
C2 C2 C2
6i 3i 1
9. If 4 3i 1  x  iy , then find the value of x, y.
20 3 i

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

10. If the system of equation x  2y  3z  1 , a  2z  3, 2a  1y  z  2 is inconsistent,

then find the value of a.

11. Solve the equations x  2y  z  7, x  3z  11, 2 x  3 y  1 .

3 2 1
12. If A    , show that A  4 A  I 2  O . Hence find A .
2

 2 1

 1 tan x  1 cos 2 x  sin 2 x 

13. If A    , show that A A   .
 tan x 1   sin 2 x cos 2 x 

3 4
14. Compute the adjoint of the matrix A    and verify that adj A  A  A I .
5 7 
2  3 
15. Show that A   1
 satisfies the equation x  6 x  17  0 . Hence find A .
2
3  4 

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

EXERCISE – II

a ab abc
1. Find the value of the determinant 2a 3a  2b 4a  3b  2c .
3a 6a  3b 10a  6b  3c

x sin  cos 
2. Prove that the determinant  sin   x 1 is independent of .
cos  1 x

3. Solve the following equations, using matrix method

x  y  3z  6
x  3 y  3z  4
5 x  3 y  3z  10 .

4. The sum of three numbers is 6. If we multiply third number by 2 and add the first number to
the result, we get 7. By adding second and third numbers to three times the first number,
we get 12, use matrix to find the numbers.

5. Given that x  cy  bz, y  az  cx, z  bx  ay ; where x, y, z are not all zero, show that
a 2  b 2  c 2  2abc  1 .

2x  4 3  4 x 11
6. The roots of 16 12  2 x 4 x  2 = 0 are
7 6 2x
loga m loga m 1 loga m  2
7. If a1 a2 …. form a G. P. and ai > 0 for all i  1, then   loga m 3 loga m  4 loga m 5 is
loga m  6 loga m 7 loga m 8
x y z
log a   log a   log a  
y z x
y z x
8. The value of the determinant log b   log b   log b   is equal to
z x y
z x y
log c   log c   log c  
x y z

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

9. Show that the following system of equations is consistent 2 x  y  3z  5, 3 x  2y  z  7

and 4 x  5 y  5z  9 . Also, find the solution.

10. Solve the equation using matrix-method:

2 3 10 4 6 5 6 9 20
   4,    1,    2.
x y z x y z x y z

1 1 1
11. If A   1 2  3 , find A 1 , hence solve the equations x  y  2z  0, x  2y  z  9,

2  1 3 
x  3 y  3z = –14.
 2 1 1  3 1  1
12. If A   1 2  1 and B   1 3
  1  , find AB and use this result to solve the
 1  1 2   1 1 3 
equations 2 x  y  z  1,  x  2y  z  4, x  y  2z  3 .

13. Solve the equations

x + 2y  2z 1 = 0 , 4x + 2y  z  2 = 0 , 6x + 6y + z  3 = 0 ,
considering specially the case when  = 2.

14. The sum of three numbers is 6. If we multiply third number by 3 and add second number to
it, we get 11. By adding first and third numbers, we get double of the second number.
Represent it algebraically and find the numbers using matrix method.

15. The cost of 4 kg onion, 3 kg wheat and 2 kg rice is Rs. 60. The cost of 2 kg onion, 4kg
wheat and 6 kg rice is Rs. 90. The cost of 6 kg onion 2 kg wheat and 3 kg rice is Rs. 70.
Find cost of each item per kg by matrix method.

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

ANSWERS

ANSWERS TO PRACTICE PROBLEMS

PP1. zero

PP2. x = 9

6 1  5
PP3.  2  5 4 
 
 3 3  1

PP4. 7

PP6. 6

PP7. x = k, y = 2k, z = k

 1 2 1 4 
PP8.  
 1 2  1 4

 1  2
PP10. a  4, b  1 and A 1   
 1 3 

PP12. x = 3, y = –1

PP13. x  1, y  1, z  1

PP14. 12, –2

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

EXERCISE – I

1. 2, 7
8. 1
9. x = 0, y = 0
1
10. –
2
11. x = 2, y = 1, z = 3

 1 2 
12. A 1   
 2  3

 7  4
14.  
 5 3 

1  4 3
15.  
17  3 2

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 DETERMINANTS TRAJECTORY EDUCATION

EXERCISE – II

1. a3
2k  5
3. x  1  k, y  k; z  , k R
3
4. 3, 1, 2
 9 7
6.   ,1 , 
 2 2
7. zero
8. zero
17  5k 11k  1
9. x ,y  and z  k , where k is any real number satisfy the given system of
7 7
equations.

10. x = 2, y = 3, z = 5
 3 4 5 
1 
11. A 1
 9  1  4; x  1, y  3, z  2
11 
 5  3  1

12. AB  4I, x  1, y  2, z  1

x  1/ 2  c 

13. y  c  c is arbitrary constant
z  0 

14. The number are 1, 2, 3

15. Onion Rs. 5 /kg

Wheat Rs. 8/ kg
Rice Rs. 8/kg

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