Section 2.

2: Evaluating determinants by row

reduction
Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
University of Johannesburg

MATEAA2 : ENGINEERING LINEAR ALGEBRA

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Table of Contents

A basic Theorem
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Determinant of Elementary matrices
Using row reduction to evaluate a determinant
Using column reduction to evaluate a determinant
Row operations and cofactor Expansion

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Zero rows or columns and transposes

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.1)

Let A be a square matrix. If A has a row of zeros or a column of
zeros, then det(A) = 0.

1 2 3
0 0 0 = 0.
4 5 6

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.2)

Let A be a square matrix. Then det(A) = det(AT ).

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Zero rows or columns and transposes

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.1)

Let A be a square matrix. If A has a row of zeros or a column of
zeros, then det(A) = 0.

1 2 3
0 0 0 = 0.
4 5 6

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.2)

Let A be a square matrix. Then det(A) = det(AT ).

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Zero rows or columns and transposes

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.1)

Let A be a square matrix. If A has a row of zeros or a column of
zeros, then det(A) = 0.

1 2 3
0 0 0 = 0.
4 5 6

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.2)

Let A be a square matrix. Then det(A) = det(AT ).

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.3)
Let A be an n × n matrix
1 If B is obtained by interchanging two rows (columns) of A,
then det(B) = −det(A), i.e., det(A) = −det(B).
2 If B is obtained by multiplying a row (column) of A by k ,
then det(B) = k det(A), i.e., det(A) = k1 det(B).
3 If B is obtained by adding a multiple of one row (column) of
A to another row (column), then det(B) = det(A), i.e.,
det(A) = det(B).

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.5)

If A is a square matrix with two proportional rows (columns)
then det(A) = 0.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.3)
Let A be an n × n matrix
1 If B is obtained by interchanging two rows (columns) of A,
then det(B) = −det(A), i.e., det(A) = −det(B).
2 If B is obtained by multiplying a row (column) of A by k ,
then det(B) = k det(A), i.e., det(A) = k1 det(B).
3 If B is obtained by adding a multiple of one row (column) of
A to another row (column), then det(B) = det(A), i.e.,
det(A) = det(B).

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.5)

If A is a square matrix with two proportional rows (columns)
then det(A) = 0.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.3)
Let A be an n × n matrix
1 If B is obtained by interchanging two rows (columns) of A,
then det(B) = −det(A), i.e., det(A) = −det(B).
2 If B is obtained by multiplying a row (column) of A by k ,
then det(B) = k det(A), i.e., det(A) = k1 det(B).
3 If B is obtained by adding a multiple of one row (column) of
A to another row (column), then det(B) = det(A), i.e.,
det(A) = det(B).

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.5)

If A is a square matrix with two proportional rows (columns)
then det(A) = 0.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.3)
Let A be an n × n matrix
1 If B is obtained by interchanging two rows (columns) of A,
then det(B) = −det(A), i.e., det(A) = −det(B).
2 If B is obtained by multiplying a row (column) of A by k ,
then det(B) = k det(A), i.e., det(A) = k1 det(B).
3 If B is obtained by adding a multiple of one row (column) of
A to another row (column), then det(B) = det(A), i.e.,
det(A) = det(B).

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.5)

If A is a square matrix with two proportional rows (columns)
then det(A) = 0.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 7 8 9
R1 ↔R3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 5 6 = B
7 8 9 1 2 3

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 2 3
3R2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 12 15 18 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 2 3
R −2R
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 2 1 0 = B
7 8 9 7 8 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Example
   
1 2 3 3 2 1
C1 ↔C3
A = 4 5 6 −→ 6 5 4 = B
7 8 9 9 8 7

det(B) = −det(A) det(A) = −det(B)

   
1 2 3 1 6 3
3C2
A = 4 5 6 −→ 4 15 6 = B
7 8 9 7 24 9
1
det(B) = 3det(A) det(A) = det(B)
3
   
1 2 3 1 0 3
C −2C
A = 4 5 6 2−→ 1 4 −3 6 = B
7 8 9 7 −6 9

det(B) = det(A) det(A) = det(B)

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Determinants of Elementary Matrices

1 0 0
|I3 | = 0 1 0 = 1.
0 0 1
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 , 0 c 0 , 0 1 k
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Theorem (Theorem 2.2.4)

Let E be an n × n elementary matrix.
1 If E results from interchanging two rows of In , then
detE = −1.
2 If E results from multiplying one row of In by k , then
detE = k.
3 If E results from adding a multiple of one row of In to
another row, then detE = 1.
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples

Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0
1 E1 = 0 0 1 |E1 | = −1
0 1 0
 
1 0 −2
2 E2 = 0 1 0  |E2 | = 1
0 0 1
 
1 0 0
3 E3 = 0 1 0  |E3 | = −3
0 0 −3

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Evaluating Determinants by row/column reduction

We can evaluate determinants by a method that involves less

computation than cofactor expansion.
The idea of the method is to reduce the given matrix to upper
triangular form by elementary row operations then compute the
determinant of the upper triangular matrix (simpler
computation), then relate that determinant to that of the original
matrix.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Evaluating Determinants by row/column reduction

We can evaluate determinants by a method that involves less

computation than cofactor expansion.
The idea of the method is to reduce the given matrix to upper
triangular form by elementary row operations then compute the
determinant of the upper triangular matrix (simpler
computation), then relate that determinant to that of the original
matrix.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Evaluating Determinants by row/column reduction

We can evaluate determinants by a method that involves less

computation than cofactor expansion.
The idea of the method is to reduce the given matrix to upper
triangular form by elementary row operations then compute the
determinant of the upper triangular matrix (simpler
computation), then relate that determinant to that of the original
matrix.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Evaluating Determinants by row/column reduction

We can evaluate determinants by a method that involves less

computation than cofactor expansion.
The idea of the method is to reduce the given matrix to upper
triangular form by elementary row operations then compute the
determinant of the upper triangular matrix (simpler
computation), then relate that determinant to that of the original
matrix.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Using row reduction to evaluate a determinant

Example
Evaluate det(A) where
 
0 1 5
3 −6 9
2 6 1

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples
0 1 5 3 −6 9
det(A) = 3 −6 9 = − 0 1 5 R1 ↔ R2
2 6 1 2 6 1
1 −2 3
1
= −3 0 1 5 R1
3
2 6 1
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 2R1
0 10 −5
1 −2 3
= −3 0 1 5 R3 − 10R2
0 0 −55
1 −2 3
1
= (−3)(−55) 0 1 5 − R3
55
0 0 1
= (−3)(−55)(1) = 165
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Using column operations to evaluate a determinant
Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0 3
2 7 0 6
A= 0

6 3 0
7 3 1 −5

Solution:
This determinant could be computed as in the previous
example by using elementary row operations to reduce A to row
echelon form. But we can put A in lower triangular form in one
step by C4 − 3C1 to obtain
 
1 0 0 0
2 7 0 0 
det(A) = det   = (1)(7)(3)(−26) = −546
0 6 3 0 
7 3 1 −26
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Using column operations to evaluate a determinant
Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0 3
2 7 0 6
A= 0

6 3 0
7 3 1 −5

Solution:
This determinant could be computed as in the previous
example by using elementary row operations to reduce A to row
echelon form. But we can put A in lower triangular form in one
step by C4 − 3C1 to obtain
 
1 0 0 0
2 7 0 0 
det(A) = det   = (1)(7)(3)(−26) = −546
0 6 3 0 
7 3 1 −26
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Using column operations to evaluate a determinant
Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0 3
2 7 0 6
A= 0

6 3 0
7 3 1 −5

Solution:
This determinant could be computed as in the previous
example by using elementary row operations to reduce A to row
echelon form. But we can put A in lower triangular form in one
step by C4 − 3C1 to obtain
 
1 0 0 0
2 7 0 0 
det(A) = det   = (1)(7)(3)(−26) = −546
0 6 3 0 
7 3 1 −26
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Using column operations to evaluate a determinant
Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0 3
2 7 0 6
A= 0

6 3 0
7 3 1 −5

Solution:
This determinant could be computed as in the previous
example by using elementary row operations to reduce A to row
echelon form. But we can put A in lower triangular form in one
step by C4 − 3C1 to obtain
 
1 0 0 0
2 7 0 0 
det(A) = det   = (1)(7)(3)(−26) = −546
0 6 3 0 
7 3 1 −26
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Using column operations to evaluate a determinant
Example
Compute the determinant of
 
1 0 0 3
2 7 0 6
A= 0

6 3 0
7 3 1 −5

Solution:
This determinant could be computed as in the previous
example by using elementary row operations to reduce A to row
echelon form. But we can put A in lower triangular form in one
step by C4 − 3C1 to obtain
 
1 0 0 0
2 7 0 0 
det(A) = det   = (1)(7)(3)(−26) = −546
0 6 3 0 
7 3 1 −26
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Row operations and cofactor expansion

Cofactor expansion and row or column operation can

sometimes be used in combination to provide an effective
method for evaluating determinants.
Example
Evaluate det(A) where
 
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
A=
2

4 1 5
3 7 5 3

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Row operations and cofactor expansion

Cofactor expansion and row or column operation can

sometimes be used in combination to provide an effective
method for evaluating determinants.
Example
Evaluate det(A) where
 
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
A=
2

4 1 5
3 7 5 3

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Solution:
3 5 −2 6
1 2 −1 1
det(A) =
2 4 1 5
3 7 5 3
0 −1 1 3 R1 − 3R2
1 2 −1 1 ∼
=
0 0 3 3 R3 − 2R2
0 1 8 0 R4 − 3R2
−1 1 3
=− 0 3 3
1 8 0
−1 1 3 ∼
=− 0 3 3 ∼
0 9 3 R3 + R1
3 3
= −(−1) = −18
9 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Examples

Example
Compute the determinant of
 
2 −2 2
1 A= 3 1 2 |A| = 6
−2 1 −1
 
2 5 −2
2 B = 1 2 3 |B| = 0
4 10 −4
 
3 5 −2
3 C = 1 2 −1 |C| = 4
2 4 2
 
2 5 −2
4 D = 1 2 −1 |D| = 0
3 10 −3

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Examples
   
2 −2 2 1
R
1 −1 1
2 1 
 3 1 2  −→ 3 1 2 
−2 1 −1 −2 1 −1
 
1 −1 1
R2 −3R1
−→  0 4 −1 
−2 1 −1
 
1 −1 1
R3 +2R1
−→  0 4 −1 
0 −1 1
 
1 −1 1
R2 ↔R3
−→  0 −1 1 
0 4 −1
 
1 −1 1
R3 +4R2
−→  0 −1 1 
0 0 3
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Can you?

Know the effect of elementary row operation on the value

of a determinant.
Know the determinants of a three types of elementary
matrices.
Know how to introduce zeros into the rows or columns of a
matrix to facilitate the evaluation of its determinant.
Use row reduction to evaluate the determinant of a matrix.
Use column operations to evaluate the determinant of a
matrix.
Combine the use of row reduction and cofactor expansion
to evaluate the determinant of a matrix.

Evaluating determinants by row reduction

Extra Exercises
Example
1 Evaluate the determinant
−a −b −c
2d 2e 2f ,
g + 3a h + 3b i + 3c

given that
a b c
d e f = −6
g h i
2 Suppose that A is a 3 × 3 matrix such that R3 = R1 + R2 (R denotes
row). Prove that det(A) = 0.
3 Find the determinants of
   
x y 0 0 0 x y y y y
0 x y 0 0 y x y y y
   
A= 0 0 x y 0 y
and B =  y x y y
0 0 0 x y y y y x y
y 0 0 0 x y y y y x
Evaluating determinants by row reduction
Extra Exercises

Example

2 x −1
4 Find c if 1 y 3 = ax + by + cz.
−3 z 4
3a c+b −b a b c
5 Find 3d f +e −e if d e f = 4.
3g i +h −h g h i

Evaluating determinants by row reduction