The-Determinant-of-a-Square-Matrix


Links For The Determinant of a Square Matrix

 

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What is a Matrix?

 

A Matrix is a rectangular array of numbers organized by rows X columns.

 

     This matrix, for example, is a 2X3.

 

So, what is a Square Matrix?

 

A Square Matrix is the same number of rows and columns.

So this Matrix is a Square Matrix because it's a 3X3.  The Matrix has the same number of rows as it does columns!!!!

 

So, what is a Determinant?

 

A Determinant is a number associated with a Square Matrix.  Determinants are used to find inverses of matrices, to find areas of triangles, and to determine if a set of points are collinear.

 

 

 

To find the Determinant of a 2X2:

 

 

 

                                                                                                    The straight lines around the matrix indictate the need for a Determinant.

So, ad-bc equals the Determinant of Matrix A.

 

Example:

 

 

 

To find the determinant of a 3 x 3: