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Exercise 7.2 · Q1

Q.Without expanding the determinant, prove that ∣sa2b2+c2sb2c2+a2sc2a2+b2∣=0.\begin{vmatrix} s & a^2 & b^2+c^2 \\ s & b^2 & c^2+a^2 \\ s & c^2 & a^2+b^2 \end{vmatrix} = 0.

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Using C3→C2+C3C_3 \to C_2 + C_3 makes the third column constant (a2+b2+c2)(a^2+b^2+c^2); it is then proportional to the first column of ss's, so the determinant vanishes.

We use the property that a determinant with two proportional columns is zero, together with the fact that a column operation C3→C2+C3C_3 \to C_2 + C_3 leaves the value unchanged.

Step 1. Apply the column operation C3→C2+C3C_3 \to C_2 + C_3 (this does not change the value of the determinant):

∣sa2a2+b2+c2sb2a2+b2+c2sc2a2+b2+c2∣.\begin{vmatrix} s & a^2 & a^2+b^2+c^2 \\ s & b^2 & a^2+b^2+c^2 \\ s & c^2 & a^2+b^2+c^2 \end{vmatrix}.

Step 2. The first column is s(111)s\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\1\end{pmatrix} and the new third column is (a2+b2+c2)(111)(a^2+b^2+c^2)\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}. Thus C1C_1 and C3C_3 are both scalar multiples of (1,1,1)T(1,1,1)^T, i.e. they are proportional.

Step 3. A determinant with two proportional columns is 00. Hence the given determinant is 00.

✓Final answer

Without expansion, ∣sa2b2+c2sb2c2+a2sc2a2+b2∣=0\begin{vmatrix} s & a^2 & b^2+c^2 \\ s & b^2 & c^2+a^2 \\ s & c^2 & a^2+b^2 \end{vmatrix} = 0.

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