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Example · Example 3

Q.Using properties of determinants, evaluate ∣101102103104105106107108109∣\begin{vmatrix}101&102&103\\104&105&106\\107&108&109\end{vmatrix} without direct expansion.

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Apply the row/column-combination property (Property 6): C2→C2−C1C_2\to C_2-C_1 turns column 2 into (102−101, 105−104, 108−107)=(1,1,1)(102-101,\,105-104,\,108-107)=(1,1,1); C3→C3−C1C_3\to C_3-C_1 turns column 3 into (103−101, 106−104, 109−107)=(2,2,2)(103-101,\,106-104,\,109-107)=(2,2,2). Neither operation changes the determinant's value. The new column 3, (2,2,2)(2,2,2), is exactly twice the new column 2, (1,1,1)(1,1,1); taking the factor 22 out of column 3 (Property 4) leaves two identical columns, so by Property 3 the determinant is 00. [!ANSWER] ∣101102103104105106107108109∣=0\begin{vmatrix}101&102&103\\104&105&106\\107&108&109\end{vmatrix}=0.

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