Q.If the determinant $\begin{vmatrix} x + a & p + u & l + f \\ y + b & q + v & m + g \\ z + c & r + w & n + h \end{vmatrix}$ splits into exactly $K$ determinants of order $3$, each element of which contains only one term, then the value of $K$ is $8$.

Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.

1. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.If $k \in R$ and $\det A = \begin{vmatrix} a_1 & b_1 & c_1 \\ a_2 & b_2 & c_2 \\ a_3 & b_3 & c_3 \end{vmatrix} = k$ then $\det B = \begin{vmatrix} a_1 & b_1 & c_1 \\ a_2 + 2a_1 & b_2 + 2b_1 & c_2 + 2c_1 \\ a_3 & b_3 & c_3 \end{vmatrix}$ is equal to (A) $0$ (B) $2K$ (C) $K$ (D) $K^2$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   $\det B$ is obtained from $\det A$ by the elementary row operation $R_2 \to R_2 + 2R_1$, which

   leaves a determinant unchanged; so $\det B = \det A = k$.

   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 $2\times$ 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

   1. $\det B = \begin{vmatrix} a_1 & b_1 & c_1 \\ a_2+2a_1 & b_2+2b_1 & c_2+2c_1 \\ a_3 & b_3 & c_3 \end{vmatrix}$.
   2. By linearity in row 2, split this into two determinants: $\det B = \begin{vmatrix} a_1&b_1&c_1\\a_2&b_2&c_2\\a_3&b_3&c_3\end{vmatrix} + 2\begin{vmatrix} a_1&b_1&c_1\\a_1&b_1&c_1\\a_3&b_3&c_3\end{vmatrix}$. …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
2. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.If $\begin{vmatrix} x^3+2x^2+3x-2 & x^2+2x+4 \\ x^3-x^2-2x-1 & 3x^3-2x^2+4x-2 \end{vmatrix} = ax^6+bx^5+cx^4+dx^3+ex^2+fx+g$, 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 $P(x)=ax^6+bx^5+cx^4+dx^3+ex^2+fx+g$, 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 $2\times2$ 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

   1. The determinant is $\begin{vmatrix} x^3+2x^2+3x-2 & x^2+2x+4 \\ x^3-x^2-2x-1 & 3x^3-2x^2+4x-2 \end{vmatrix}$.
   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 $=4(3)-7(-3)=12+21=33 = P(1) = a+b+c+d+e+f+g$. …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
3. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.What is the value of $\begin{vmatrix} a & b & c \\ a-b & b-c & c-a \\ b+c & c+a & a+b \end{vmatrix} = ?$ (A) $a^3 + b^3 + c^3 + 3abc$ (B) $a^3 + b^3 + c^3 - 3abc$ (C) $a^3 + b^3 + c^3 - 6abc$ (D) $a^3 + b^3 + c^3 + 6abc$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Direct cofactor expansion of the determinant shows all cross terms cancel, leaving the

   classical identity $a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc$.

   Concept and Intuition

   This is a disguised version of the well-known factorisation

   $a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc=(a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-bc-ca)$, 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

   1. Expand along the first row: $D = a\left[(b-c)(a+b)-(c-a)(c+a)\right] - b\left[(a-b)(a+b)-(c-a)(b+c)\right] + c\left[(a-b)(c+a)-(b-c)(b+c)\right]$.
   2. Compute each bracket:
      • $(b-c)(a+b)-(c-a)(c+a) = ab+b^2-ac-bc-c^2+a^2$
      • $(a-b)(a+b)-(c-a)(b+c) = a^2-b^2-bc-c^2+ab+ac$
      • $(a-b)(c+a)-(b-c)(b+c) = ac+a^2-bc-ab-b^2+c^2$
   3. Multiply through by $a$, $-b$, $c$ respectively and add. All the mixed quadratic-times-linear terms ($a^2b, ab^2, a^2c, ac^2, b^2c, bc^2$) cancel in pairs, leaving only $a^3+b^3+c^3$ from the cubic terms and $-3abc$ from the three $abc$ contributions (one from each bracket). …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
4. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.$\begin{vmatrix} a+b+2c & a & b \\ c & b+c+2a & b \\ c & a & c+a+2b \end{vmatrix} =$ (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 $s+(\text{off-diagonal-like term})$ 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 $sI + \text{rank-1}$ matrices have a clean closed form.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Let $s=a+b+c$. Rewrite diagonal entries: $a+b+2c=s+c$, $b+c+2a=s+a$, $c+a+2b=s+b$.
   2. The matrix becomes:

   $M=\begin{bmatrix}s+c & a & b\\ c & s+a & b\\ c & a & s+b\end{bmatrix}$

   3. Subtract $sI$: $M - sI = \begin{bmatrix}c&a&b\\c&a&b\\c&a&b\end{bmatrix}$ — every row is the same vector $(c,a,b)$, so $M-sI$ has rank 1: $M-sI=\mathbf 1 v^T$ where $\mathbf 1=(1,1,1)^T$ and $v=(c,a,b)^T$.
   4. So $M=sI+\mathbf1v^T$. The determinant lemma (matrix determinant lemma) gives: $\det(sI+\mathbf1 v^T) = s^3 + s^2\,(v^T\mathbf1)$ …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
5. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.If the determinant of a $3^{rd}$ order matrix A is K, then the sum of the determinants of the matrices $(AA^T)$ and $(A-A^T)$ is (A) 2K (B) 0 (C) $K^2$ (D) K

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   This tests two standard determinant facts: $\det(AA^T) = (\det A)^2$, and any odd-order skew-symmetric matrix (such as $A-A^T$ for a $3\times3$ matrix $A$) has determinant zero — giving the sum $K^2 + 0 = K^2$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Two separate determinant identities combine here:

   1. For any square matrix $A$, $\det(A^T) = \det(A)$, so $\det(AA^T) = \det(A)\cdot\det(A^T) = (\det A)^2$.
   2. The matrix $A - A^T$ is always skew-symmetric, since $(A - A^T)^T = A^T - A = -(A - A^T)$. For a skew-symmetric matrix $S$ of odd order $n$, we always have $\det S = 0$. This is because $\det(S^T) = \det(S)$ always, but also $S^T = -S$ gives $\det(S^T) = \det(-S) = (-1)^n \det(S)$. For odd $n$, $(-1)^n = -1$, so $\det(S) = -\det(S)$, forcing $\det(S) = 0$.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Given: $A$ is a $3\times3$ matrix with $\det(A) = K$.
   2. Compute $\det(AA^T)$: using $\det(AA^T) = \det(A)\det(A^T)$ and $\det(A^T) = \det(A) = K$, we get $\det(AA^T) = K \cdot K = K^2$.
   3. Compute $\det(A - A^T)$: let $S = A - A^T$. Then $S^T = A^T - A = -S$, so $S$ is skew-symmetric.
   4. Since $S$ is a $3\times3$ (odd-order) skew-symmetric matrix: $\det(S) = \det(S^T) = \det(-S) = (-1)^3\det(S) = -\det(S)$. This gives $2\det(S) = 0 \Rightarrow \det(S) = 0$. …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
6. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.If $A = \begin{bmatrix} a & 2b & 3c \\ 2b & c & 3a \\ 3c & 2a & b \end{bmatrix}$ and $\det(A) = pa^3 + qb^3 + rc^3 + s(abc)$, then $p+q+r+s =$ (A) $12$ (B) $20$ (C) $24$ (D) $30$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Expanding the determinant gives $-6a^3-4b^3-9c^3+31abc$, so $p+q+r+s=-6-4-9+31=12$ — option (A).

   $\det(A)=\begin{vmatrix} a & 2b & 3c \\2b & c & 3a \\3c & 2a & b \end{vmatrix} = a(cb-6a^2)-2b(2b^2-9ac)+3c(4ab-3c^2).$

   Expand:

   $= abc-6a^3-4b^3+18abc+12abc-9c^3 = -6a^3-4b^3-9c^3+31abc.$ …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
7. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.$\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ a^2 & b^2 & c^2 \\ a^3 & b^3 & c^3 \end{vmatrix} =$ (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 $1,x,x^2$ (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 $e_2 = ab+bc+ca$ (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 $e_2$.

   Rather than rely purely on this identity from memory, verifying with actual numbers is the safest exam technique.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Expand the determinant along the first row (all entries 1): $D = (b^2c^3-b^3c^2) - (a^2c^3-a^3c^2) + (a^2b^3-a^3b^2)$ $= b^2c^2(c-b) + a^2c^2(a-c) + a^2b^2(b-a)$.
   2. Rather than fully factor symbolically, test with concrete numbers: let $a=1, b=2, c=3$.
      • Direct determinant: rows $(1,1,1)$, $(1,4,9)$, $(1,8,27)$. $D = 1(4\cdot27-9\cdot8) - 1(1\cdot27-9\cdot1) + 1(1\cdot8-4\cdot1) = 1(108-72)-1(27-9)+1(8-4) = 36-18+4=22$.
   3. 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 $=2\times11=22$. Matches $D=22$. …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
8. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.$\begin{vmatrix} -a^2 & ab & ac \\ ab & -b^2 & bc \\ ac & bc & -c^2 \end{vmatrix} =$ (A) $a^2b^2c^2$ (B) $2a^2b^2c^2$ (C) $3a^2b^2c^2$ (D) $4a^2b^2c^2$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Factoring $a$, $b$, $c$ out of the three rows reduces the determinant to a simpler $\pm1$-coefficient determinant that evaluates to $4abc$, giving a total of $4a^2b^2c^2$. Answer: (D).

   Concept and Intuition

   Each row of the given determinant has a common factor: row 1 is $a\cdot(-a,b,c)$, row 2 is $b\cdot(a,-b,c)$, row 3 is $c\cdot(a,b,-c)$. Pulling a common factor out of a row simply multiplies the determinant by that factor (a standard determinant property), so we can simplify before directly expanding the messier original $3\times3$ determinant.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Original determinant: $\begin{vmatrix} -a^2 & ab & ac \\ ab & -b^2 & bc \\ ac & bc & -c^2 \end{vmatrix}$.
   2. Factor $a$ from row 1, $b$ from row 2, $c$ from row 3:

   $= abc\begin{vmatrix} -a & b & c \\ a & -b & c \\ a & b & -c \end{vmatrix}$

   3. Expand this reduced determinant along the first row: $-a\begin{vmatrix}-b&c\\b&-c\end{vmatrix} - b\begin{vmatrix}a&c\\a&-c\end{vmatrix} + c\begin{vmatrix}a&-b\\a&b\end{vmatrix}$ …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
9. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.The value of $\begin{vmatrix} b+c & a & a \\ b & c+a & b \\ c & c & a+b \end{vmatrix}$ 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 $2\times2$ 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

   1. The determinant is $\begin{vmatrix} b+c & a & a \\ b & c+a & b \\ c & c & a+b \end{vmatrix}$.
   2. Apply $R_1 \to R_1 + R_2 + R_3$: 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).
   3. Numeric check: let $a=1, b=2, c=3$. The matrix becomes $\begin{pmatrix}5&1&1\\2&4&2\\3&3&3\end{pmatrix}$.
   4. Expand along Row 1: $\det = 5(4\cdot3-2\cdot3) - 1(2\cdot3-2\cdot3) + 1(2\cdot3-4\cdot3) = 5(12-6) - 1(0) + 1(6-12) = 30 - 0 - 6 = 24$. …

   🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
10. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQ
    Q.The value of the determinant $\begin{vmatrix} a+b & a+2b & a+3b \\ a+2b & a+3b & a+4b \\ a+4b & a+5b & a+6b \end{vmatrix}$ is ____ (A) $a$ (B) $b$ (C) $0$ (D) $a+b$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    The rows of this determinant are in arithmetic progression (each row's entries increase by a constant step, and consecutive rows shift by a constant amount too); row-reducing shows two rows become proportional, forcing the determinant to $0$.

    Concept and Intuition

    A determinant is zero whenever any two rows (or columns) are linearly dependent (e.g. one is a scalar multiple of another, or a linear combination of others). Rows built from an arithmetic-progression pattern (like $a+b, a+2b, a+3b$ then shifting by a constant each row) are a classic setup for this — subtracting consecutive rows collapses the "arithmetic" structure into constant, proportional rows.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Original matrix:

    $\begin{vmatrix} a+b & a+2b & a+3b \\ a+2b & a+3b & a+4b \\ a+4b & a+5b & a+6b \end{vmatrix}$

    2. Perform $R_2 \to R_2 - R_1$: new $R_2 = (a+2b-(a+b),\ a+3b-(a+2b),\ a+4b-(a+3b)) = (b,\ b,\ b)$.
    3. Perform $R_3 \to R_3 - R_2^{\text{(original)}}$: new $R_3 = (a+4b-(a+2b),\ a+5b-(a+3b),\ a+6b-(a+4b)) = (2b,\ 2b,\ 2b)$. …

    🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
11. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQ
    Q.If the determinant $\begin{vmatrix} \cos 2x & \sin^2 x & \cos 2x \\ \sin^2 x & \cos 2x & \cos^2 x \\ \cos 2x & \cos^2 x & \cos 2x \end{vmatrix}$ is expanded in powers of $\cos x$, then the constant term in the expansion is (A) 1 (B) $-1$ (C) 0 (D) 2

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    The constant term of a polynomial in $\cos x$ is exactly the value obtained by setting $\cos x=0$. Answer: (A).

    Concept and Intuition

    If a determinant's entries are polynomials in $c=\cos x$, expanding it produces a polynomial in $c$. Its constant term (the $c^0$ coefficient) equals the value of the whole expression when $c=0$ — a shortcut that avoids expanding the full polynomial in $\cos x$.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Write each entry in terms of $c=\cos x$: $\cos2x = 2c^2-1$, $\sin^2x = 1-c^2$, $\cos^2x = c^2$.
    2. Set $c=0$: $\cos2x \to -1$, $\sin^2x \to 1$, $\cos^2x \to 0$.
    3. The matrix becomes $\begin{bmatrix}-1&1&-1\\1&-1&0\\-1&0&-1\end{bmatrix}$. …

    🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →
12. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQ
    Q.If $f,g,h$ are differentiable functions of $x$, then $\begin{vmatrix} f & g & h \\ (xf)' & (xg)' & (xh)' \\ f' & g' & h' \end{vmatrix} =$ (A) $fg' - gh'$ (B) $gh' + xf'$ (C) $0$ (D) $x(f'+g'+h')$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    The determinant simplifies to zero because the second row is a linear combination of the first and third rows, making the rows linearly dependent.

    We are asked to evaluate

    $\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} f & g & h \\ (xf)' & (xg)' & (xh)' \\ f' & g' & h' \end{vmatrix}$

    where $f,g,h$ are differentiable functions of $x$.

    ---

    Concept and Intuition

    The key idea is to use row operations that do not change the value of a determinant, or to notice linear dependence among rows.

    Here, the second row contains derivatives of products $xf, xg, xh$. Using the product rule,

    $(xf)' = f + x f', \quad (xg)' = g + x g', \quad (xh)' = h + x h'.$

    So the second row is actually:

    $\begin{pmatrix} f + x f' & g + x g' & h + x h' \end{pmatrix}.$

    Notice that this is exactly Row 1 plus $x$ times Row 3:

    $\text{Row 2} = \text{Row 1} + x \cdot \text{Row 3}.$

    When one row is a linear combination of the others, the determinant is zero.

    ---

    Step-by-step reasoning

    1. Expand the second row entries using the product rule:

    $(xf)' = f + x f', \quad (xg)' = g + x g', \quad (xh)' = h + x h'.$

    2. Rewrite the determinant with this expanded form:

    $\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} f & g & h \\ f + x f' & g + x g' & h + x h' \\ f' & g' & h' \end{vmatrix}.$

    3. Perform a row operation that does not change the determinant: subtract Row 1 from Row 2.

    $\text{New Row 2} = \text{Row 2} - \text{Row 1} = \begin{pmatrix} x f' & x g' & x h' \end{pmatrix}.$

    So

    $\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} f & g & h \\ x f' & x g' & x h' \\ f' & g' & h' \end{vmatrix}.$ …

    🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to see the full solution →