4.

MINORS :
a1 b1
1. The symbol a b is called the determinant of The minor of a given element of a determinant is
2 2
the determinant of the elements which remain after
order two.
deleting the row & the column in which the given
Its value is given by : D = a1 b2  a2 b1 element stands . For example, the minor of a1 in
a1 b1 c1 b2 c2
(Key Concept 2) is & the minor of b2 is
2. The symbol a2 b2 c2 is called t he b3 c3
a3 b3 c3 a1 c1
determinant of order three . a3 c3
.

b2 c2 Hence a determinant of order two will have “4

Its value can be found as : D = a1 b c  minors” & a determinant of order three will
3 3
have “9 minors”.
b1 c1 b1 c1 5. COFACTOR :
a2 b c + a3 b c OR
3 3 2 2 If Mij represents the minor of some typical element
b 2 c2 a 2 c2 a 2 b2
then the cofactor is defined as :
D = a1 b c  b1 a c + c1 a b ....... Cij = (1)i+j . Mij ; Where i & j denotes the row
3 3 3 3 3 3
& column in which the particular element lies. Note
and so on .
that the value of a determinant of order three in
In this manner we can expand a determinant in 6
terms of ‘Minor’ & ‘Cofactor’ can be written as :
ways using elements of ;

r
D = a11M11  a12M12 + a13M13 OR D = a11C11
R1 , R2 , R3 or C1 , C2 , C3 . + a12C12 + a13C13 & so on .......

(i) The lines :

Si
3. Following examples of short hand writing large 6. PROPERTIES OF DETERMINANTS :
expressions are :
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0........ (1)
P 1 : The value of a determinant remains unaltered
, if the rows & columns are inter changed.
a2x + b2y + c2 = 0........ (2) a 1 b1 c1 a1 a 2 a 3
a3x + b3y + c3 = 0........ (3)
.B
e.g. if D = a b c  b b b = D
2 2 2 1 2 3
a1 b1 c1 a3 b3 c3 c1 c2 c3
are concurrent if , a 2 b2 c2 = 0 .
D & D are transpose of each other . If D=  D
a3 b3 c3
then it is SKEW SYMMETRIC determinant but
G

Condition for the consistency of three D= D  2 D = 0  D = 0  Skew symmetric

simultaneous linear equations in 2 variables. determinant of third order has the value zero.
(ii) ax² + 2 hxy + by² + 2 gx + 2 fy + c = 0 P 2: If any two rows (or columns) of a
represents a pair of straight lines if : determinant be interchanged , the value of
a h g determinant is changed in sign only. e.g.
abc + 2 fgh  af²  bg²  ch² = 0 = h b f a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2
g f c Let D = a 2 b 2 c2 & D = a 1 b1 c1
(iii) Area of a triangle whose vertices are (xr , a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3
yr) ; r = 1 , 2 , 3 is : Then D =  D .
x1 y1 1 P 3: If a determinant has any two rows
1
D= x2 y2 1 If D = 0 then the three (or columns) identical , then its value is zero.
2
x3 y3 1
a1 b1 c1
points are collinear .
e.g. Let D = a1 b1 c1 then it can be
(iv) Equation of a straight line passsing through
a3 b3 c3
x y 1
(x1 , y1) & (x2 , y2) is x1 y1 1 = 0 verified that D = 0.
x2 y2 1

1
P 4: If all the elements of any row (or column) be
a1 b1 c1
multiplied by the same number, then the
(ii) If D = a 2 b 2 c2  0 then ,
determinant is multiplied by that number.
a3 b3 c3
a1 b1 c1
e.g. If D = a 2 b2 c2 and A1 B1 C1
a3 b3 c3 D² = A 2 B2 C 2 where Ai , Bi , Ci are
A3 B3 C3
Ka 1 Kb1 Kc1
cofactors
D = a2 b2 c2 Then D= KD
a3 b3 c3 a1 b1 c1
PROOF : Consider a2 b2 c2
P5: If each element of any row (or column) can a3 b3 c3
be expressed as a sum of two terms then the
determinant can be expressed as the sum of A1 A 2 A3 D 0 0
two determinants . e.g.
× B1 B2 B3 = 0 D 0
a 1  x b1  y c1  z a1 b1 c1 x y z C1 C 2 C3 0 0 D
a2 b2 c2  a2 b2 c2  a 2 b2 c2 Note : a1A2 + b1B2 + c1C2 = 0 etc.
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3
A1 A 2 A3
P 6: The value of a determinant is not altered
therefore , D x B1 B2 B3 =

r
by adding to the elements of any row (or column) C1 C2 C3
the same multiples of the corresponding elements
of any other row

(or column). e.g. Let D = a 2 b 2 c2

a1 b1
Si
c1
and
D3
A1 A 2
 B1 B2
C1 C 2
A3
B3 = D²
C3
a3 b3 c3
.B
A1 B1 C1
a 1  ma 2 b1  m b 2 c1 mc 2 OR A2 B2 C 2 = D²
a2 b2 c2 A3 B3 C3
D = .
a 3  na 2 b 3 n b 2 c 3 nc 2 8. SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATION (IN
G

Then D= D . TWO VARIABLES) :

Note : that while applying this property (i) Consistent Equations : Definite & unique
ATLEAST ONE ROW (OR COLUMN) must solution . [ intersecting lines ]
remain unchanged . (ii) Inconsistent Equation : No solution .
P 7: If by putting x = a the value of a determinant [ Parallel line ]
vanishes then (x  a) is a factor of the determinant. (iii) Dependent equation : Infinite solutions .
[ Identical lines ]
7. MULTIPLICATION OF TWO Let a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 & a2x + b2y + c2 = 0
DETERMINANTS : then :
(i) a1 b c
 1  1  Given equations are
a1 b1 l1 m1 a 1 l 1  b1 l 2 a 1 m1  b1 m2 a2 b2 c2
x 
a2 b2 l2 m2 a 2 l1  b 2 l 2 a 2 m1  b 2 m 2 inconsistent
Similarly two determinants of order three are a1 b c
&  1  1  Given equations are
multiplied. a2 b2 c2
dependent

2
9. CRAMER'S RULE : [ Simultaneous Equations
Involving Three Unknowns ]
Let ,a1x + b1y + c1z = d1 ...(I) ; a2x + b2y + c2z =
d2 ...(II) ; a3x + b3y + c3z = d3 ...(III)
D1 D D
Then , x= , Y= 2 , Z= 3 .
D D D
a1 b1 c1 d1 b1 c1
Where D = a 2 b 2 c2 ; D1 = d 2 b 2 c 2 ;
a3 b3 c3 d3 b3 c3

a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
D2 = a 2 d2 c2 & D3 = a 2 b 2 d 2
a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3
NOTE :
(a) If D  0 and alteast one of D1 , D2 , D3  0 , then
the given system of equations are consistent and
have unique non trivial solution .
(b) If D  0 & D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 , then the given
system of equations are consistent and have trivial
solution only .

r
(c) If D = D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 , then the given system
of equations are consistent and have infinite
solutions.

In case
a1x  b1y  c1z  d1 
a 2x  b 2 y  c2z  d 2 
a 3x  b 3 y  c3z  d 3 
Si
represents

these parallel planes then also

.B
D = D1 = D2 = D3 = 0 but the system is
inconsistent.
(d) If D = 0 but atleast one of D1 , D2 , D3 is not zero
then the equations are inconsistent and have no
G

solution .

10. If x , y , z are not all zero , the condition for a1x

+ b1y + c1z = 0 ; a2x + b2y + c2z = 0 &
a3x + b3y + c3z = 0 to be consistent in x , y , z is
a1 b1 c1
that a 2 b2 c2 = 0.
a3 b3 c3
Remember that if a given system of linear
equations have Only Zero Solution for all its
variables then the given equations are said to
have TRIVIAL SOLUTION.

3
1. The absolute value of the determinant
1 a2 a4 1 1 1
1 2 1 1 b2 4
b k a b c
7. If then k is
3 2 2 22 2 1 1 c2 c4 a2 b2 c2
is
32 2 22 2 1
(A) (a + b) (b + c) (c + a) (B) ab + bc + ac
(A) 16 2 (B) 8 2 (C) a2b2c2 (D) a2 + b2 + c2
(C) 0 (D) None of these 8. If a  b, then the system of equations ax+by+bz=0,
bx + ay + bz = 0, bx + by + ax = 0 will have a non
a 2  1 ab ac trivial solution if
ba b 2  1 bc (A) a + b = 0 (B) a + 2b = 0
2. If D = then D equal to
ca cb c2  1 (C) 2a + b = 0 (D) a + 4b = 0

(A) 1 + a2 + b2 + c2 (B) a2b2c2 9. The system of equation –2x + y + z = 1. x– 2y + z

(C) bc + ca + ab (D) zero = –2, x + y + z = 4 will have no solution if
(A) = –2 (B)  = –1
3. If a,b & c are non-zero real numbers then (C) = 3 (D) None of these
b 2c 2 bc b  c 10. The value of ‘k’ for which the set of equations
c2a 2 ca c  a 3x + ky – 2z = 0, x + ky + 3z = 0, 2x + 3y – 4z = 0
D= equal to
a 2 b2 ab a  b has a non – trivial solution over the set of rational

r
is
(A) abc (B) a2b2c2
(A) 33/2 (B) 31/2

4.
(C) bc + ca + ab

Value of =
sin(2)
sin(   )
sin(   )
(D) zero

sin(2)
sin(   )
Si
sin(  ) sin(   )
sin(   )
sin(2)
11.
(C) 16

(a x  a  x ) 2
(D) 15
If a,b,c > 0 & x,y,  R then the determinatn

(a x  a  x ) 2 1
(b y  b  y ) 2 (b y  b  y ) 2 1
(A) = 0
.B
(B)  = sin2+ sin2+ sin2 (c z  c  z ) 2 (cz  c z ) 1
(C) = 3/2 (A) axbycz (B) a–xb–yc–z
(D) None of these (C) a2xb2yc2z (D) zero
5. The determinant 12. The determinant
G

a 2 (1  x) ab ac cos(  )  sin(  ) cos 2

ab b 2 (1  x) bc sin  cos  sin 
D= is divisible by
ac bc c 2 (1  x)  cos  sin  cos 
(A) 1 + x (B) (1 + x)2 (A) 0
(C) x2 (D) x2 +1 (B) Independent of 
(C) Independent of 
b1  c1 c1  a 1 a1  b1
(D) Independent of & both
b2  c 2 c2  a 2 a 2  b2
6. The determinant
b 3  c3 c3  a 3 a 3  b3 13. If A,B,C are angles of a triangle ABC, then

a1 b1 c1 a1 b1 c1 A B C
sin sin sin
2 2 2
a2 b2 c2 2 a2 b2 c2
(A) (B) B A
a3 b3 c3 a3 b3 c3 sin(A  B  C) sin sin
2 2 is less
(A  B  C) C
a1 b1 c1 cos tan(A  B  C) sin
2 2
3 a2 b2 c2
(C) (D) None of these
a3 b3 c3 than or equal to

4
 3 3 1
(A) (B) 20. If a2 + b2 + c2 = –2 and f (x) =
8 8
(C) 2 2 (D) 2 1  a 2 x (1  b 2 )x (1  c2 )x
(1  a 2 )x 1  b 2 x (1  c2 )x
then f(x) is a
x x lna 2 (1  a 2 )x (1  b 2 )x 1  c2 x
a e x
a 3x e3x lna x4 polynomial of degree [AIEEE 2005]
14. If f (x)= 5x , then
a e5x lna 1 (A) 1 (B) 0
(C) 3 (D) 2
(A) f(x) – f(– x) = 0
(B) f(x) . f(–x) = 0
1 1 1
(C) f(x) + f(–x) = 0
1 1 x 1
(D) None 21. If D = for x 0, y  0 then D is
1 1 1 y
a3  x a 4  x a5  x [AIEEE 2007]
a5  x a 6  x a7  x (A) divisible by neither x nor y
15. Value of the D = 7 is
a  x a8  x a 9  x (B) divisible by both x and y
(C) divisible by x but not y
(A) 0 (D) divisible by y but not x
(B) (a3 – 1) (a6 – 1) (a9 – 1)

r
(C) (a3 + 1) (a6 + 1) (a9 + 1) 22. Let A be a square matrix all of whose entries are

16.
(D) a15 – 1
Si
If the system of equations x + 2y + 3z = 4, x + y +
2z = 3, x + 4y + z = 3 has an infinite a number of
solutions then
(A) = 2,
integers. Then which one of the following is true
[AIEEE 2008]
(A) If det A ± 1, then A–1 exists and all its entries
are non-integers
(B) If det A = ±1, then A–1 exists and all its entries
are integers
(B) = 2,
.B
(C) If det A = ± 1, then A–1 need not exist
(C) 3= 2
(D) If det A= ±1, then A–1exists but all its entries
(D) None of these are not necessarily integers
x xy xyz
23. Let a,b,c be such that b (a+c)  0. If
2x 5x  2y 7x  5y  2z
G

17. If x,y,z R =

3x 7x  3y 9x  7y  3z a a 1 a 1 a 1 b 1 c 1
= –16 then value of x is b b  1 b  a  a 1 b 1 c 1
(A) –2 (B) –3 c c 1 c 1 (1)n  2 a (1) n 1 a (1) n c
(C) 2 (D) 3 = 0 [AIEEE 2009]
1  sin 2 x cos 2 x 4sin 2x then the value of is :
2 2 (A) Any even integer (B) Any odd integer
sin x 1  cos x 4sin 2x
18. Let f(x)= (C) Any integer (D) Zero
sin 2 x cos 2 x 1  4sin 2x

then the maximum value of f(x) is 24. The number of values of k, for which the system of
(A) 4 (B) 6 equations : [JEE-MAIN 2013]
(C) 8 (D) 12 (k + 1) x + 8y = 4k
kx + (k + 3)y = 3k – 1
19. The system equations x +y + z = –1, x + y + z
has no solution, is :
= –1, x + y + z = –1 has no solution , if is-
(A) 2 (B) 3
[AlEEE 2005]
(C) infinite (D) 1
(A) –2 (B) either –2 or 1
(C) not–2 (D) 1

5
25. If 0, f(n) = n + n and
p 15 8
3 1  f (1) 1  f (2) 2
30. If Dp = p 35 9 , then D1 + D2 + D3 + D4
1  f (1) 1  f (2) 1  f (3) p3 25 10
1  f (2) 1  f (3) 1  f (4)
+ D5 is equal to -
2 2 2
= K (1–) (1–) () , then K is equal to (A) 0 (B) 25
(JEE-Main 2014) (C) 625 (D) none of these
31. If A + B + C = , then
1
(A)  (B) 
sin(A  B  C) sin B cos C
(C) 1 (D) –1  sin B 0 tan A is equal to -
26. The system of linear equations cos(A  B)  tan A 0
x + y – z = 0 [JEE-Main 2016] (A) 0 (B) 2 sin B tan A cos C
x–y–z = 0 (C) 1 (D) none of these
x + y– z = 0
has a non-trivial solution for: 32. The number of real values of x satisfying
(A) exactly one value of 
x 3x  2 2x 1
(B) exactly two values of 
2 x 1 4x 3 x 1 = 0 is -
(C) exactly three values of 
7x  2 17 x  6 12 x 1

r
(D) infinitely many values of 
27. If S is the set of distinct values of ‘b’ for which of (A) 3 (B) 0

x +ay +z = 1
ax + by + z = 0
Si
the following system of linear equations
x+y+z=1 [JEE-MAIN 2017]
33.
(C) 1 (D) infinite

If a, b, c are pth, qth and rth terms of a GP, then

log a p 1
has a non-trivial soluton for :
log b q 1 is equal to -
(A) an empty set
.B
(B) an infinite set log c r 1
(C) as finite set containing two or more elements (A) 0 (B) 1
(D) a singleton (C) log abc (D) pqr
28. The value of determinant
G

34. If a1, a2,.......an, an+1,...... are in GP and ai > 0 i,

ab bc ca
bc ca a b is equal to - log a n log a n 2 log a n 4
ca a b bc then log a n 6 log a n 8 log a n 10 is equal
log a n 12 log a n 14 log a n 16

(A) abc (B) 2abc to -

(C) 0 (D) 4abc (A) 0 (B) n log an
(C) n(n + 1) log an (D) none of these
29. For any ABC, the value of determinant

sin 2 A cot A 1 35. If px4 + qx3 + rx2 + sx + t =

sin 2 B cot B 1 is equal to -
x2  3 x x 1 x3
2
sin C cot C 1 x 1 2x x3 then t is equal to -
(A) 0 x3 x4 3x
(B) 1
(A) 33 (B) 0
(C) sin A sin B sin C
(C) 21 (D) none
(D) sin A + sin B + sin C

6
36. For positive numbers x, y and z, the numerical
a b c
value of the determinant
40. If a  b  c and a2 b2 c2 = 0 then
1 log x y log x z bc ca ab
log y x 1 log y z is -
log z x log z y 1
(A) a + b+ c = 0
(A) 0 (B) ab + bc + ca = 0
(B) log xyz (C) a2 + b2 + c2 = ab + bc + ca
(C) log(x + y + z) (D) abc = 0
(D) logx logy logz 41. If a, b, & c are nonzero real numbers, then

37. If a, b, c > 0 and x, y, z  R, then the determinant b2 c 2 bc bc

2 2
c a ca ca is equal to -
(a x  a  x )2 (a x  a  x )2 1 2 2
a b ab ab
(b y  b  y )2 (b y  b  y )2 1 is equal to -
z
(c  c ) z 2 z
(c  c ) z 2
1 (A) a2b2c2(a + b + c) (B) abc(a + b + c)2
(C) zero (D) none of these
(A) axbycx (B) a–xb–yc–z
(C) a2xb2yc2z (D) zero 42. If f(x) =
1 x x 1

r
38. For a non-zero real a, b and c 2x x(x  1) (x  1)x ,
3 x(x  1) x(x  1)(x  2) (x  1)x (x  1)
a 2  b2
c

a
2
b c
a
c
2
c

a
Si
=  abc, then
then f (100) is equal to -
(A) 0
(C) 100
(B) 1
(D) –100

c2  a 2 43. If the system of equations x + 2y + 3z =4, x + py

b b
+ 2z = 3,  x + 4y + z = 3 has an infinite number
.B
b
of solutions, then -
the values of is - (A) p = 2, µ = 3 (B) p =2, µ= 4
(A) –4 (B) 0 (C) 3p = 2µ (D) none of these
(C) 2 (D) 4 44. If f'(x) =
G

39. The equation

mx mx  p mx  p
(1  x) 2 (1  x ) 2 (2  x 2 ) n n p n p ,
2x  1 3x 1  5x  mx  2n mx  2n  p mx  2n  p
x 1 2x 2  3x
then y = f(x) represents -
(A) a straight line parallel to x–axis
(1  x )2 2 x  1 x  1 (B) a straight line parallel to y–axis
(1  x) 2 3 x 2x (C) parabola
=0
1  2 x 3x  2 2x  3 (D) a straight line with negative slope

(A) has no real solution 45. If a2 + b2 + c2 = -2 and

(B) has 4 real solutions 1  a2 x (1  b2 )x (1  c2 )x
(C) has two real and two non-real solutions
f(x)  (1  a 2 )x 1  b2 x
(1  c2 )x , then f(x)
(D) has infinite number of solutions, real or non-
real (1  a )x (1  b )x 1  c 2 x
2 2

is a polynomial of degree-
(A) 2 (B) 3
(C) 0 (D) 1

7
ANSWER KEY
1. A 2. A 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. A 11. D 12. B 13. B
14. C 15. A 16. D 17. C 18. B 19. A 20. D 21. B 22. B 23. C 24. B 25. C 26. C
27. D 28. C 29. A 30. D 31. A 32. D 33. A 34. A 35. C 36. A 37. D 38. D 39. D
40. A 41. C 42. A 43. D 44. A 45. A

r
Si
.B
G