Q.Find minors and cofactors of the elements a11, a21 in the determinant Δ=a11a21a31a12a22a32a13a23a33.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Determinant Evaluation Using Identities
Determinant Evaluation Using Identities
Expanding a 4×4 or 5×5 determinant term by term is painful and error-prone. The smarter route is to transform the determinant into an easy form using properties (the "identities") that change its value in a known, controlled way — then read the answer off a triangular matrix.
The geometric intuition
A determinant measures the signed "volume" of the box spanned by the rows in n-dimensional space. Sliding one row parallel to another doesn't change that volume; swapping two rows flips its sign; scaling a row scales the volume. The algebraic identities are just these facts translated into rules.
The three row (or column) operations
- Swap two rows: det→−det (sign flips).
- Scale a row by k: det→kdet (the factor comes out).
- Add a multiple of one row to a different row (Ri→Ri+λRj, i=j): det unchanged.
The identical rules hold for columns. There is also row-wise linearity: if a row is a sum Ri=Ri′+Ri′′, the determinant splits into the sum of two determinants with all other rows fixed.
Row-wise linearity is not det(A+B)=detA+detB — that is false. The splitting works one row at a time.
The strategy
- Use operation 3 to create zeros in a row or column (value unchanged).
- Factor out common factors with operation 2.
- Swap rows if needed to reach upper-triangular form (track the sign change).
- The determinant is then the product of the diagonal entries.
Worked example
det1472583610.
Apply R2→R2−4R1 and R3→R3−7R1 (no change), then R3→R3−2R2: …
Concept: Minor and Cofactor Definition
The minor Mij of element aij is the determinant obtained by deleting the i-th row and j-th column. The cofactor Cij is (−1)i+jMij.
Step 1: Minor of a11
Delete row 1 and column 1:
M11=a22a32a23a33=a22a33−a23a32
Step 2: Cofactor of a11
C11=(−1)1+1M11=M11.
Step 3: Minor of a21
Delete row 2 and column 1: …
The minor of an element is the determinant left after deleting its row and column; the cofactor is (−1)i+j times the minor. For a11, minor M11=a22a32a23a33 and cofactor A11=M11. For a21, minor M21=a12a32a13a33 and cofactor A21=−M21.
The idea is simple: every element in a determinant has a "shadow" — the smaller determinant you get by removing its row and column. That shadow is the minor. But the sign matters when you use it to expand the determinant, so we attach a sign based on the element's position: (−1)row+column. That signed minor is the cofactor.
Let’s walk through it for the two elements asked.
- For a11 (first row, first column): Delete row 1 and column 1. What remains is the 2×2 determinant formed by the other rows (2 and 3) and other columns (2 and 3):
M11=a22a32a23a33
The cofactor A11 is (−1)1+1M11=(+1)⋅M11=M11.
So A11=a22a32a23a33.
- For a21 (second row, first column): Delete row 2 and column 1. The remaining rows are 1 and 3, remaining columns are 2 and 3:
M21=a12a32a13a33
The cofactor A21=(−1)2+1M21=(−1)3M21=−M21.
So A21=−a12a32a13a33. …
Method: Finding Minors and Cofactors in a General (Symbolic) Determinant
This method finds the minor and cofactor of a named element when the determinant's entries are symbols (aij) rather than numbers — exactly the same deletion rule applies, just carried out algebraically.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the element's exact position
Read off the row i and column j from the subscript of the element itself — e.g. a21 sits in row 2, column 1.
Step 2: Delete that row and column symbolically
Cross out every symbol in row i and every symbol in column j from the full 3×3 array, keeping the remaining symbols in their original relative positions.
Step 3: Write the resulting 2×2 symbolic minor
Mij=apqasqaprasr=apqasr−aprasq
where p,s are the two surviving row indices and q,r are the two surviving column indices, in their original order.
Step 4: Attach the sign for the cofactor
Cij=(−1)i+jMij …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the negative sign on the cofactor of a21
Why it's wrong: since 2+1=3 is odd, (−1)2+1=−1, so A21=−M21 — writing A21=M21 (without the negative) is a very common slip, especially since a11's cofactor (an even position) does NOT need the sign flip, and it's easy to apply that same "no flip" habit to every element. Correct approach: check the parity of i+j for every single element individually — never assume the pattern from a neighboring element.
Mistake 2: Deleting the wrong row/column pair symbolically …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If the cofactors of the elements 3, 7 and 6 of the matrix 1422−14376 are a,b and c respectively, then [a b c]142+[a b c]376= (A) −1 (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
a,b,c turn out to be the cofactors of the matrix's third column, and the two
vectors being dotted with [a b c] are exactly its first and third columns. The
Laplace-expansion identity makes both dot products come out to (a multiple of) the
matrix's determinant, which here is 0 — so the sum is 0.
Concept and Intuition
For a 3×3 matrix A, the cofactor expansion identity says: if you take the
entries of any column of A and dot them with the cofactors of a matching column,
you get det(A); if you dot them with the cofactors of a different column, you get
0 (this is the algebraic content behind A⋅adj(A)=det(A)I). Recognising
that the two given vectors, (1,4,2)T and (3,7,6)T, are precisely columns 1 and 3
of the matrix — and that a,b,c are the cofactors of column 3 — turns this into a
one-line application of that identity instead of brute-force computation (though brute
force also works and is done below to double-check).
Step-by-Step Solution
- The matrix is M=1422−14376. The entries 3,7,6 sit at positions (1,3),(2,3),(3,3) — all in column 3. So a=C13, b=C23, c=C33.
- Compute C13 (delete row 1, col 3; sign (+1)1+3=+):
C13=+42−14=4(4)−(−1)(2)=16+2=18.
- Compute C23 (delete row 2, col 3; sign (−1)2+3=−):
C23=−1224=−(1⋅4−2⋅2)=−(0)=0.
- Compute C33 (delete row 3, col 3; sign (+1)3+3=+):
C33=+142−1=1(−1)−2(4)=−1−8=−9.
- So [a b c]=[18 0 −9].
- First dot product: [a b c]142=18(1)+0(4)+(−9)(2)=18−18=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.1a2a31b2b31c2c3= (A) (a−b)(b−c)(c−a)(a+b+c) (B) (a−b)(b−c)(c−a) (C) (a−b)(b−c)(a−c)(ab+bc+ca) (D) (a−b)(b−c)(c−a)(ab+bc+ca)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This determinant is a known generalised-Vandermonde identity that factors as (a−b)(b−c)(c−a)(ab+bc+ca) — verified numerically, option (D).
Concept and Intuition
Determinants with rows 1,x,x2 (Vandermonde) factor neatly as (a−b)(b−c)(c−a). When the exponent pattern is not consecutive (here 0,2,3 instead of 0,1,2), the determinant still factors into the Vandermonde piece times an extra symmetric-polynomial factor — here that extra factor turns out to be e2=ab+bc+ca (the second elementary symmetric polynomial), since the exponent set {0,2,3} is the base set {0,1,2} shifted up by the partition (0,1,1), whose associated Schur polynomial is exactly e2.
Rather than rely purely on this identity from memory, verifying with actual numbers is the safest exam technique.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand the determinant along the first row (all entries 1): D=(b2c3−b3c2)−(a2c3−a3c2)+(a2b3−a3b2) =b2c2(c−b)+a2c2(a−c)+a2b2(b−a).
- Rather than fully factor symbolically, test with concrete numbers: let a=1,b=2,c=3.
- Direct determinant: rows (1,1,1), (1,4,9), (1,8,27). D=1(4⋅27−9⋅8)−1(1⋅27−9⋅1)+1(1⋅8−4⋅1)=1(108−72)−1(27−9)+1(8−4)=36−18+4=22.
- Test option (D): (a−b)(b−c)(c−a)(ab+bc+ca) with these values: (1−2)(2−3)(3−1)=(−1)(−1)(2)=2; ab+bc+ca=2+6+3=11; product =2×11=22. Matches D=22. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-FN1 markMCQQ.1−132103222022202120242023= (A) 8494−1611313 (B) 8494−1613312 (C) 8494−1613313 (D) 849416111313
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiplying the given 3×3 matrix by itself, entry by entry using the row-times-column rule, produces 8494−1613313, matching option (C).
Concept and Intuition
Matrix multiplication of a square matrix A with itself (A×A=A2) is computed entry by entry: the (i,j) entry of the product is the dot product of row i of the first matrix with column j of the second matrix. Carrying this out carefully for all 9 entries of a 3×3 matrix gives the resulting product matrix.
Step-by-Step Solution
Let A=1−13210322. Compute A2=A⋅A entry by entry (row i of A dotted with column j of A):
- (1,1): 1(1)+2(−1)+3(3)=1−2+9=8
- (1,2): 1(2)+2(1)+3(0)=2+2+0=4
- (1,3): 1(3)+2(2)+3(2)=3+4+6=13
- (2,1): −1(1)+1(−1)+2(3)=−1−1+6=4
- (2,2): −1(2)+1(1)+2(0)=−2+1+0=−1
- (2,3): −1(3)+1(2)+2(2)=−3+2+4=3
- (3,1): 3(1)+0(−1)+2(3)=3+0+6=9
- (3,2): 3(2)+0(1)+2(0)=6+0+0=6
- (3,3): 3(3)+0(2)+2(2)=9+0+4=13
Assembling these gives A2=8494−1613313, which is an exact, entry-by-entry match with option (C). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.a+b+2cccab+c+2aabbc+a+2b= (A) (a+b+c)3 (B) 2(a+b+c)3 (C) 3(a+b+c)3 (D) (a+b+c)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing each diagonal entry as s+(off-diagonal-like term) where s=a+b+c reveals the matrix as sI plus a rank-1 correction, whose determinant works out cleanly to 2(a+b+c)3 using the determinant lemma (or row operations).
Concept and Intuition
Many "cyclic-symmetric" determinants like this one simplify beautifully once you notice a+b+2c=(a+b+c)+c, etc. — subtracting off the common sum s=a+b+c from every diagonal entry turns the matrix into sI (a multiple of the identity) plus a very simple rank-1 matrix whose every row is identical. Determinants of sI+rank-1 matrices have a clean closed form.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let s=a+b+c. Rewrite diagonal entries: a+b+2c=s+c, b+c+2a=s+a, c+a+2b=s+b.
- The matrix becomes:
M=s+cccas+aabbs+b
- Subtract sI: M−sI=cccaaabbb — every row is the same vector (c,a,b), so M−sI has rank 1: M−sI=1vT where 1=(1,1,1)T and v=(c,a,b)T.
- So M=sI+1vT. The determinant lemma (matrix determinant lemma) gives: det(sI+1vT)=s3+s2(vT1) …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The value of b+cbcac+acaba+b is (A) abc (B) (a+b)(b+c)(c+a) (C) 4abc (D) (a−b)(b−c)(c−a)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This classic 3×3 determinant simplifies via row operations (adding all rows together makes every entry in one row equal to a+b+c) to the closed form 4abc, confirmed by direct numeric substitution.
Concept and Intuition
Many "nice" symmetric determinants like this one are best handled by first performing a row or column operation that reveals a common factor (here, adding all three rows makes every entry in the new row equal, exposing an (a+b+c) or similar factor), then simplifying the reduced 2×2 structure. When the algebra gets intricate, a quick numeric sanity check with simple values of a,b,c is an efficient way to confirm which answer choice matches.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The determinant is b+cbcac+acaba+b.
- Apply R1→R1+R2+R3: the new first row becomes (b+c+b+c, a+c+a+c, a+b+a+b)... more carefully, summing column-wise: column 1 sum =(b+c)+b+c=b+2c... to avoid an error-prone symbolic expansion, verify by direct numeric substitution instead (a clean, reliable check for this type of determinant).
- Numeric check: let a=1,b=2,c=3. The matrix becomes 523143123.
- Expand along Row 1: det=5(4⋅3−2⋅3)−1(2⋅3−2⋅3)+1(2⋅3−4⋅3)=5(12−6)−1(0)+1(6−12)=30−0−6=24. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-FN1 markMCQQ.What is the value of aa−bb+cbb−cc+acc−aa+b=? (A) a3+b3+c3+3abc (B) a3+b3+c3−3abc (C) a3+b3+c3−6abc (D) a3+b3+c3+6abc
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct cofactor expansion of the determinant shows all cross terms cancel, leaving the
classical identity a3+b3+c3−3abc.
Concept and Intuition
This is a disguised version of the well-known factorisation
a3+b3+c3−3abc=(a+b+c)(a2+b2+c2−ab−bc−ca), packaged as a determinant. Expanding carefully
term by term (rather than guessing) confirms which of the four sign variants is correct.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand along the first row: D=a[(b−c)(a+b)−(c−a)(c+a)]−b[(a−b)(a+b)−(c−a)(b+c)]+c[(a−b)(c+a)−(b−c)(b+c)].
- Compute each bracket:
- (b−c)(a+b)−(c−a)(c+a)=ab+b2−ac−bc−c2+a2
- (a−b)(a+b)−(c−a)(b+c)=a2−b2−bc−c2+ab+ac
- (a−b)(c+a)−(b−c)(b+c)=ac+a2−bc−ab−b2+c2
- Multiply through by a, −b, c respectively and add. All the mixed quadratic-times-linear terms (a2b,ab2,a2c,ac2,b2c,bc2) cancel in pairs, leaving only a3+b3+c3 from the cubic terms and −3abc from the three abc contributions (one from each bracket). …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If x3+2x2+3x−2x3−x2−2x−1x2+2x+43x3−2x2+4x−2=ax6+bx5+cx4+dx3+ex2+fx+g, then a+b+c+d+e+f= (A) 23 (B) 25 (C) 21 (D) 20
›Reveal solutionSolution
Evaluating the determinant-polynomial at x=1 gives the sum of ALL coefficients (including the constant g); evaluating at x=0 isolates g alone. Subtracting removes g, leaving a+b+c+d+e+f=25.
Concept and Intuition
If P(x)=ax6+bx5+cx4+dx3+ex2+fx+g, a classic trick to get the sum of coefficients excluding the constant term is: P(1)=a+b+c+d+e+f+g gives the sum of all coefficients (since every power of 1 is 1), while P(0)=g isolates just the constant term. So P(1)−P(0)=a+b+c+d+e+f. Here P(x) is defined as the given 2×2 determinant, so we just need to evaluate that determinant at x=1 and x=0 directly — no need to expand the full degree-6 polynomial.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The determinant is x3+2x2+3x−2x3−x2−2x−1x2+2x+43x3−2x2+4x−2.
- At x=1: top-left =1+2+3−2=4; top-right =1+2+4=7; bottom-left =1−1−2−1=−3; bottom-right =3−2+4−2=3. Determinant =4(3)−7(−3)=12+21=33=P(1)=a+b+c+d+e+f+g. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If A=a2b3c2bc2a3c3ab and det(A)=pa3+qb3+rc3+s(abc), then p+q+r+s= (A) 12 (B) 20 (C) 24 (D) 30
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expanding the determinant gives −6a3−4b3−9c3+31abc, so p+q+r+s=−6−4−9+31=12 — option (A).
det(A)=a2b3c2bc2a3c3ab=a(cb−6a2)−2b(2b2−9ac)+3c(4ab−3c2).
Expand:
=abc−6a3−4b3+18abc+12abc−9c3=−6a3−4b3−9c3+31abc. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If k∈R and detA=a1a2a3b1b2b3c1c2c3=k then detB=a1a2+2a1a3b1b2+2b1b3c1c2+2c1c3 is equal to (A) 0 (B) 2K (C) K (D) K2
›Reveal solutionSolution
detB is obtained from detA by the elementary row operation R2→R2+2R1, which
leaves a determinant unchanged; so detB=detA=k.
Concept and Intuition
A core determinant property: adding a scalar multiple of one row to another row does not change the determinant's value. This is because splitting the determinant using linearity in
row 2 gives the original determinant plus 2× a determinant with two identical rows (rows 1
and the added copy of row 1), and any determinant with two identical rows is exactly zero.
Step-by-Step Solution
- detB=a1a2+2a1a3b1b2+2b1b3c1c2+2c1c3.
- By linearity in row 2, split this into two determinants: detB=a1a2a3b1b2b3c1c2c3+2a1a1a3b1b1b3c1c1c3. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-04-AN1 markMCQQ.If a, b, c are respectively the 5th, 8th, 13th terms of an arithmetic progression, then abc5813111= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) abc (D) 520
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since a,b,c are AP terms whose positions (5, 8, 13) are also linear in the same way, the determinant with columns (term, position, 1) is identically zero.
Concept and Intuition
If a,b,c are terms of an AP at positions p,q,r respectively, then a=A+(p−1)d, b=A+(q−1)d, c=A+(r−1)d — i.e. each term is an affine (linear) function of its position. A determinant of the form termposition1 over three such rows is always zero, because the "term" column is a linear combination of the "position" column and the "1" column (row reduction makes a column of zeros).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let the AP have first term A and common difference d. Then a=A+4d (5th term), b=A+7d (8th term), c=A+12d (13th term).
- Expand the determinant along the first row: Δ=a(8⋅1−1⋅13)−5(b⋅1−1⋅c)+1(b⋅13−8⋅c) =a(−5)−5(b−c)+(13b−8c)=−5a−5b+5c+13b−8c=−5a+8b−3c.
- Substitute: −5a=−5A−20d, 8b=8A+56d, −3c=−3A−36d. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-04-FN1 markMCQQ.For i=1,2,3 and j=1,2,3. If ai2+bi2+ci2=1, aiaj+bibj+cicj=0, ∀i=j and A=a1b1c1a2b2c2a3b3c3 then det(AAT)= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) −1 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The conditions given say the rows of A form an orthonormal set, which is precisely the condition AAT=I; so its determinant is 1. Answer: 1.
Concept and Intuition
For a matrix A with rows R1,R2,R3, the (i,j) entry of AAT is exactly the dot product Ri⋅Rj. The problem states ai2+bi2+ci2=1 (each row is a unit vector) and aiaj+bibj+cicj=0 for i=j (distinct rows are perpendicular). Together these say the rows are orthonormal — which is the defining property of an orthogonal matrix, for which AAT=I.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write (AAT)ij=Ri⋅Rj=aiaj+bibj+cicj.
- For i=j: (AAT)ii=ai2+bi2+ci2=1 (given).
- For i=j: (AAT)ij=aiaj+bibj+cicj=0 (given).
- So AAT=I3, the 3×3 identity matrix.
- det(AAT)=det(I3)=1.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.2311+131/31+1/231/91+1/431/271+…∞= (A) 0 (B) 21 (C) −21 (D) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expand each 2×2 determinant, recognise two independent geometric series in the result, and sum them separately. Answer: (C).
Concept and Intuition
Every term in the sum is a 2×2 determinant with a fixed bottom row (31), so a3b1=a−3b splits linearly into an a-part and a b-part. Once each part is recognised as its own geometric progression, the infinite sum is just the difference of two standard geometric series sums, 1−rfirst term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- General term: an3bn1=an⋅1−bn⋅3=an−3bn.
- First-column values across the given terms: 2,1,21,41,… — a geometric sequence with first term 2 and ratio 21: an=2(21)n−1.
- Second-column values: 1,31,91,271,… — geometric with first term 1 and ratio 31: bn=(31)n−1. …
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