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Sigma Matrices10 2009 1

This document explains how to find the determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix using the example matrix B. It demonstrates the calculation by selecting the third column and computing the determinant as 91 through the use of cofactors and minors. The document also mentions that a video tutorial is available for further assistance.

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26 views1 page

Sigma Matrices10 2009 1

This document explains how to find the determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix using the example matrix B. It demonstrates the calculation by selecting the third column and computing the determinant as 91 through the use of cofactors and minors. The document also mentions that a video tutorial is available for further assistance.

Uploaded by

angel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Example of finding the determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix

sigma-matrices10-2009-1

This leaflet will show you how to find the determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix.
 
4 −1 3
B= 5 2 1 


−2 7 0

We will choose the third column with elements 3, 1, 0. The determinant is then given by

det(B) = 3 × cofactor of 3 + 1 × cofactor of 1 + 0 × cofactor of 0

Note that we don’t need to work out the cofactor of 0 since it is going to be multiplied by zero.

5 2
Minor of 3: = 35 + 4 = 39. The place sign of 3 is +, so the cofactor is 39.
−2 7

4 −1
Minor of 1: = 28 − 2 = 26. The place sign of 1 is −, so the cofactor is −26.
−2 7

Putting these results together gives

det(B) = (3 × 39) + (1 × −26) + 0 = 117 − 26 = 91

You could have chosen any other row or column at the start and you would still obtain the answer 91.
You would have a little more work to do if you had chosen a row or column that did not include the
element 0.

Note that a video tutorial covering the content of this leaflet is available from sigma.

www.mathcentre.ac.uk 1 c mathcentre 2009

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