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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Definition of the determinant of a matrix

Definition of the determinant of a matrix

This article will tell you about determinants and matrices. Here we will learn the definition of determinants of matrices via a few examples.

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You can correlate a value (real or complex) called the determinant of the square matrix A with every square matrix A = [] of order n, where a = (i,j)th member of A. This can be thought of as a function that assigns a unique number to each square matrix (real or complex).

If M is a collection of square matrices, K is a set of real or complex integers, and f (A) = k will be defined as f: M →  k, where A ∈ M and k ∈ K, then f (A) is known as the determinant of A. You can also write this as | A |,  A, or ∆. 

The determinant can be thought of as a function with a square matrix as its input and a real number as its output. We can name our matrix if n is the number of rows and columns in the matrix. The simplest square matrix is 1×1, which isn’t important because it only includes one integer. 

The determinant of this matrix is calculated by following these rules. We’ll start at the upper left component and work our way down the first row. By ignoring a’s row and column, we multiply component a by the determinant of the “submatrix” created. This submatrix is the 1×1 matrix consisting of d in this example, and its determinant is just d. As a result, the determinant’s first term is an ad.

Next, we’ll look at the upper right component b, which is the second component of the first row. The determinant of the submatrix produced by ignoring b’s row and column, which is c, is multiplied by b. As a result, the determinant’s following term is bc. Simply subtract the first term ad from the second term bc to get the overall determinant.

It’s a mess. Let’s understand it with a simple example: 

Determinant of matrix  questions with solutions

Question 1: Find the determinants of the 3x 3 matrix? 

 

2

2

1

-3

0

4

1

-1

5

 

Solution: First, you need to find the correspondence between elements of the real problem and generic elements in the formula. 

 

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

i

 
 

2

2

1

-3

0

4

1

-1

5

 

Now you can use the determinants formula: 

Applying the formula in the equation: 

= 2[ 0 – (-4)] + 3 [10 – (-1)] +1 [8-0]

= 2 (0+4) +3 (10 +1) + 1(8)

= 2(4) +3(11) + 8

= 8+33+8

= 49

Therefore the answer would be given as: 

 

2

2

1

-3

0

4

1

-1

5

 

=49

Question 2: Determine the determinants of the 3×3 matrix? 

 

1

-3

2

3

-1

3

2

-3

1

 

Solution: First, you need to find the correspondence between elements of the real problem and generic elements in the formula. 

 

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

i

 

 

 

1

-3

2

3

-1

3

2

-3

1

 

Now you can use the determinants formula: 

Applying the formula in the equation:

= 1[ -1 – (-9)] – 3 [-3 – (-6)] + 2 [-9 – (-2)]

= 1 (-1+9) -3 (-3 +6) + 2(-9 + 2)

= 1(8) -3(3) +2(-7)

= 8 -9-14

= -15

Therefore the determinants of the equation would be: 

 

 

1

-3

2

3

-1

3

2

-3

1

 

 

= -15

Question 3: Determine the determinants of the 3×3 matrix? 

 

2

6

1

3

5

4

1

2

7

 

Solution: First, you need to find the correspondence between elements of the real problem and generic elements in the formula.

 

2

6

1

3

5

4

1

2

7

 

|A| = 2(35-8) – 3(42-2) +1(24-5)

|A| = 2(27) – 3(40) + 1(19)

|A| = 54-120+19

|A| = 73 -120

|A| = -47

Question 4: Determine the determinants of the 3×3 matrix? 

 

4

3

2

2

 

Solution: First, you need to find the correspondence between elements of the real problem and generic elements in the formula.

 

4

3

2

2

 

The determinant of matrix A is

 (A) = |A| = 8 – 6

|A| = 2

Question 5: Determine the determinants of the 3×3 matrix? 

P=

 

√3/2  

-½

  ½

√3/2

 

A = 

 

1 

0

  0

  1

 

and Q = PAPT, then P (Q2005)PT equal to __? 

Solution: 

If Q = PAPT, PT Q = APT,

(as PPT = I) PT Q2005 P = A PT Q2004 P

= A2 PT Q2003 P

= A3 PT Q2002 P

= A2004 PT (QP)

= A2004 PT(PA) (Q = PART ⇒ QP = PA)

= A2005

A2005 = 

 

1 

0

  2005

    1

 

Conclusion

Therefore, from the above article, we determined the definition of the determinant of a matrix, learnt about the determinant of a positive definite matrix and determinant of a symmetric positive definite matrix. A determinant can be defined as a special number that can be obtained from the matrix. The matrix is square-shaped( with the same number of rows and columns). 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the IIT JEE Examination Preparation.

What do you mean by the determinant of the matrix is 1?

If you find the determinant of a matrix with the value of 0, the matrix will be called the singular, and if the dete...Read full

Write a way to express a determinant?

You need to add the first term and subtract the second term to get the overall determinant. This can be written as d...Read full

Name different types of determinants?

First-order determinants, second-order determinants, and third-order determinants are the three most different types...Read full

What do you mean by the diagonal matrix's determinant?

A diagonal matrix’s determinant is the product of its diagonal elements. As a result, the determinant is 0 onl...Read full

If you find the determinant of a matrix with the value of 0, the matrix will be called the singular, and if the determinant value is one, the matrix is known as unimodular.

You need to add the first term and subtract the second term to get the overall determinant. This can be written as det([])=ad−bc.

First-order determinants, second-order determinants, and third-order determinants are the three most different types of determinants. 

A diagonal matrix’s determinant is the product of its diagonal elements. As a result, the determinant is 0 only when one of the main diagonal elements is zero. When the determinant of a matrix is zero, we call it singular. And, if one of the principal diagonal members of a diagonal matrix is zero, it is singular.

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