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Exercise: Properties of Determinants · Q14

Q.Evaluate ∣639248157∣\begin{vmatrix}6&3&9\\2&4&8\\1&5&7\end{vmatrix} by first taking the common factor 33 out of row 1.

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Row 1, (6,3,9)(6,3,9), has every entry divisible by 33: ∣639248157∣=3∣213248157∣\begin{vmatrix}6&3&9\\2&4&8\\1&5&7\end{vmatrix}=3\begin{vmatrix}2&1&3\\2&4&8\\1&5&7\end{vmatrix}. Expanding the inner determinant along row 1: 2∣4857∣−1∣2817∣+3∣2415∣=2(28−40)−1(14−8)+3(10−4)=2(−12)−1(6)+3(6)=−24−6+18=−122\begin{vmatrix}4&8\\5&7\end{vmatrix}-1\begin{vmatrix}2&8\\1&7\end{vmatrix}+3\begin{vmatrix}2&4\\1&5\end{vmatrix}=2(28-40)-1(14-8)+3(10-4)=2(-12)-1(6)+3(6)=-24-6+18=-12. So the original determinant =3×(−12)=−36=3\times(-12)=-36. [!ANSWER] ∣639248157∣=−36\begin{vmatrix}6&3&9\\2&4&8\\1&5&7\end{vmatrix}=-36.

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