SECTION 3 .
1 The Cofactor Expansion
Definition
3.1
Assume that determinants of matrices have been defined. Given the matrix ,
let
denote the matrix
obtained from by deleting row and column
Then the -cofactor is the scalar defined by
Here is called the sign of the -position.
• The sign of a matrix is clearly 1 or , and the following
diagram is useful for remembering the sign of a
position:
SECTION 3 .1 The Cofactor Expansion
EXAMPLE
2
Find the cofactors of positions , and in the following matrix.
Definition
3.2
Assume that determinants of matrices have been defined. If is define
This is called the cofactor expansion of det along row
SECTION 3 .1 The Cofactor Expansion
Theorem 1 Cofactor Expansion Theorem
The determinant of an matrix A can be computed by using the cofactor
expansion along any row or column of A. That is det A can be computed by
multiplying each entry of the row or column by the corresponding cofactor and
adding the results.
EXAMPLE
3
Compute the determinant of .
EXAMPLE
4
Compute det where .
SECTION 3 .1 The Cofactor Expansion
Theorem 2
Let denote an matrix.
1. If has a row or column of zeros, .
2. If two distinct rows (or columns) of are interchanged, the determinant of
the resulting matrix is
3. If a row (or column) of is multiplied by a constant , the determinant of
the resulting matrix is
4. If two distinct rows (or columns) of are identical, .
5. If a multiple of one row of is added to a different row (or if a multiple of
a column is added to a different column), the determinant of the resulting
matrix is .
SECTION 3 .1 The Cofactor Expansion
EXAMPLE
5
Evaluate det when .
EXAMPLE
6
If , evaluate det where .
Theorem 3
If A is an matrix, then for any number u.
SECTION 3 .1 The Cofactor Expansion
EXAMPLE
9
Evaluate det if .
• A square matrix is called a lower triangular matrix if all entries above the
main diagonal are zero (as in Example 9).
• Similarly, an upper triangular matrix is one for which all entries below
the main diagonal are zero.
• A triangular matrix is one that is either upper or lower triangular.
Theorem 4
If A is a square triangular matrix, then det A is the product of the entries on the
main diagonal
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
Theorem 1 Product Theorem
If A and B are matrices, then det(AB) = det A det B.
Theorem 1 extends easily to det det .
• In fact, induction gives
for any square matrices of the same size.
• In particular, if each , we obtain
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
Theorem 2
An matrix is invertible if and only if det When this is the case,
EXAMPLE
2
For which values of does have an inverse?
EXAMPLE
3
If a product of square matrices is invertible, show that each is invertible.
Theorem 3
If is any square matrix, .
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
EXAMPLE
4
If and , calculate .
EXAMPLE
5
A square matrix is called orthogonal if . What are the possible values of if is
orthogonal?
Adjugates
• Recall that the -cofactor of a square matrix is a number defined for each
position in the matrix.
• If is a square matrix, the cofactor matrix of is defined to be the matrix
whose -entry is the -cofactor of
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
Definition
3.3
The adjugate of , denoted , is the transpose of this cofactor matrix; in symbols,
EXAMPLE
6
Compute the adjugate of and calculate and adj .
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
Theorem 4 Adjugate Formula
If is any square matrix, then
In particular, if det , the inverse of is given by
EXAMPLE
7
Find the -entry of if
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
Cramer’s Rule
Theorem 1 Cramer’s Rule
If is an invertible matrix, the solution to the system
of n equations in the variables is given by
where, for each is the matrix obtained from by replacing column by .
SECTION 3 .2 Determinants and Matrix Inverses
EXAMPLE
9
Find , given the following system of equations.
