Q.Evaluate the determinants

Showing the 12 most recent of 18 on this concept.

1. KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQ
   Q.Let $f(x)=\begin{vmatrix}-1 & x & 3\\ 0 & 1 & 2x\\ 1 & -1 & 1\end{vmatrix}$. Then the value of $f(-1)$ is equal to (A) 6 (B) -4 (C) -2 (D) 2 (E) 0

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   At $x=-1$ the determinant evaluates to $0$.

   At $x=-1$ the matrix is $\begin{pmatrix}-1&-1&3\\0&1&-2\\1&-1&1\end{pmatrix}$. Expanding along the first column: …

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2. KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06094 marksMCQ
   Q.Let $A=(a_{ij})$ be a square matrix of order 3 and let $M_{ij}$ be the minors of $a_{ij}$. If $M_{11}=-40, M_{12}=-10, M_{13}=35$ and $a_{11}=1, a_{12}=3, a_{13}=-2$ then the value of $|A|$ is equal to (A) -100 (B) -80 (C) 0 (D) 60 (E) 80

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Convert minors to cofactors with alternating signs, then expand: $|A|=-80$.

   Cofactors: $C_{11}=+M_{11}=-40$, $C_{12}=-M_{12}=10$, $C_{13}=+M_{13}=35$.

   Expanding along the first row: …

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3. KEAM 2021Set eng-2021-P2-B14 marksMCQ
   Q.Let $\begin{vmatrix} x-1 & 2 & 1 \\ 2 & x-1 & 2 \\ 1 & x+2 & x-1 \end{vmatrix} = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$, where $a, b, c$ and $d$ are constants. Then the value of $d$ is (A) $-8$ (B) $6$ (C) $0$ (D) $-6$ (E) $16$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Setting $x=0$ gives the constant term $d=16$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Writing the determinant as $ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$, the constant $d$ equals the value at $x=0$, since all $x$-bearing terms vanish there.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. At $x=0$ the matrix is $\begin{bmatrix}-1 & 2 & 1\\ 2 & -1 & 2\\ 1 & 2 & -1\end{bmatrix}$.
   2. Expand: $-1((-1)(-1)-2\cdot2)-2(2\cdot(-1)-2\cdot1)+1(2\cdot2-(-1)\cdot1)$. …

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4. KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04224 marksMCQ
   Q.The value of $\begin{vmatrix} \sin 30^\circ & \cos 30^\circ & \sin(30^\circ + 75^\circ) \\ \sin 45^\circ & \cos 45^\circ & \sin(45^\circ + 75^\circ) \\ \sin 60^\circ & \cos 60^\circ & \sin(60^\circ + 75^\circ) \end{vmatrix}$ is equal to (A) $-2$ (B) $-1$ (C) $0$ (D) $1$ (E) $2$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   The third column is a fixed linear combination of the first two, forcing a zero determinant.

   Each entry of column 3 is $\sin(\theta+75^\circ)=\sin\theta\cos75^\circ+\cos\theta\sin75^\circ$. …

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5. KEAM 2021Set eng-2021-P2-B14 marksMCQ
   Q.The value of the determinant $\begin{vmatrix}4 & 4^2 & 4^3\\ 3 & 3^2 & 3^3\\ 2 & 2^2 & 2^3\end{vmatrix}$ is (A) $52$ (B) $-24$ (C) $24$ (D) $48$ (E) $-48$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   The determinant equals $-48$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Each row $(k, k^2, k^3)$ has a common factor $k$, which can be pulled out of the determinant. The remaining determinant is a small $3\times 3$ evaluation.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Factor $4,3,2$ from rows 1,2,3: value $=4\cdot 3\cdot 2\,\begin{vmatrix}1 & 4 & 16\\ 1 & 3 & 9\\ 1 & 2 & 4\end{vmatrix}=24\,D$.
   2. Expand $D=1(3\cdot4-9\cdot2)-4(1\cdot4-9\cdot1)+16(1\cdot2-3\cdot1)$. …

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6. KEAM 2023Set eng-2023-P2-B24 marksMCQ
   Q.The determinant of the matrix $\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 4 & 8 \\ 1 & 9 & 27 \\ 1 & 16 & 64 \end{bmatrix}$ is (A) $13$ (B) $208$ (C) $104$ (D) $26$ (E) $52$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Expanding along the first row gives determinant 52.

   Concept and Intuition

   A direct cofactor expansion along the first row is quickest for a 3×3 determinant.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. det = 1(9·64 − 27·16) − 4(1·64 − 27·1) + 8(1·16 − 9·1).
   2. = 1(576 − 432) − 4(64 − 27) + 8(16 − 9). …

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7. KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04254 marksMCQ
   Q.The numbers $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, a_5$ and $a_6$ are in G.P. If $a_1 = 2$ and the common ratio $r = \dfrac{1}{2}$, then the value of $\begin{vmatrix} a_1 & a_2 & 1 \\ a_3 & a_4 & 1 \\ a_5 & a_6 & 1 \end{vmatrix}$ is equal to (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) $\dfrac{1}{2}$ (D) 4 (E) 0

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Two columns are proportional, forcing the determinant to zero.

   With $a_1 = 2, r = \tfrac12$: the terms are $2, 1, \tfrac12, \tfrac14, \tfrac18, \tfrac{1}{16}$.

   In the determinant

   $\begin{vmatrix} a_1 & a_2 & 1 \\ a_3 & a_4 & 1 \\ a_5 & a_6 & 1 \end{vmatrix},$ …

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8. KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06064 marksMCQ
   Q.Let $A=\begin{pmatrix}2 & -1 & 1\\ -1 & 0 & 2\\ 1 & -2 & -1\end{pmatrix}$ and let $B=\dfrac{1}{|A|}A$. Then the value of $|B|$ is equal to (A) $\dfrac{1}{9}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{11}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{81}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{121}$ (E) 1

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   For a $3\times3$ matrix, scaling by $1/|A|$ scales the determinant by $(1/|A|)^3$. …

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9. KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQ
   Q.The value of the determinant $\begin{vmatrix} (10^5 + 10^{-5})^2 & (10^5 - 10^{-5})^2 & 1 \\ (100^6 + 100^{-6})^2 & (100^6 - 100^{-6})^2 & 1 \\ (6^{100} + 6^{-100})^2 & (6^{100} - 6^{-100})^2 & 1 \end{vmatrix}$ is equal to (A) $100$ (B) $200$ (C) $0$ (D) $6000$ (E) $60600$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   In every row the two entries are $(P+Q)^2$ and $(P-Q)^2$ with $PQ=1$, so $C_1-C_2=4PQ=4$ for all rows. That makes column $C_1-C_2$ a multiple of the all-ones column $C_3$; two proportional columns force the determinant to be $0$.

   In each row the entries have the form $(P+Q)^2,\ (P-Q)^2,\ 1$, where:

   • Row 1: $P=10^5,\ Q=10^{-5}$, $PQ=1$.
   • Row 2: $P=100^6,\ Q=100^{-6}$, $PQ=1$.
   • Row 3: $P=6^{100},\ Q=6^{-100}$, $PQ=1$.

   Apply the column operation $C_1\to C_1-C_2$. For every row, …

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10. KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04284 marksMCQ
    Q.Let $\Delta = \begin{vmatrix} x & y & 1 \\ x+y & y+1 & x+1 \\ 1 & x & y \end{vmatrix}$. If $x+y=-1$, then the value of $\Delta$ is equal to (A) 3 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 0 (E) -3

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    Expanding $\Delta$ and substituting $x+y=-1$, every term reduces to $0$ because it carries a factor $x+y+1=0$.

    Expanding along the first row:

    $\Delta=x\big[(y+1)y-(x+1)x\big]-y\big[(x+y)y-(x+1)\big]+\big[(x+y)x-(y+1)\big].$

    With $x+y=-1$:

    • First term: $x\big[(y^2-x^2)+(y-x)\big]=x(y-x)(x+y+1)=x(y-x)(0)=0$. …

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11. KEAM 2022Set eng-2022-P2-B14 marksMCQ
    Q.Let $A = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & -2 \end{bmatrix}$ and let $AB = \begin{bmatrix} -5 & 41 \\ 5 & -13 \end{bmatrix}$. Then $\left|B^T\right| =$ (A) $\frac{1}{14}$ (B) 14 (C) 10 (D) $-10$ (E) $-14$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    $|B^T|=14$.

    Concept and Intuition

    Determinants multiply: $|AB|=|A||B|$, and a transpose has the same determinant, $|B^T|=|B|$.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. $|A|=3(-2)-4(1)=-6-4=-10$.
    2. $|AB|=(-5)(-13)-(41)(5)=65-205=-140$.
    3. $|B|=\frac{|AB|}{|A|}=\frac{-140}{-10}=14$.
    4. $|B^T|=|B|=14$.

    Common Mistakes …

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12. KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQ
    Q.$\begin{vmatrix} 11 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 21 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 31 \end{vmatrix}$ is equal to (A) 7100 (B) 6800 (C) 7300 (D) 6900 (E) 6700

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    Cofactor expansion along the first row gives $7100$.

    Expansion. For $\begin{vmatrix}11&1&1\\1&21&1\\1&1&31\end{vmatrix}$:

    $=11(21\cdot31-1\cdot1)-1(1\cdot31-1\cdot1)+1(1\cdot1-21\cdot1)$ …

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