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Question 45 of 49

Q.Using properties of determinants, prove that |a+b+c -c -b; -c a+b+c -a; -b -a a+b+c| = 2(a+b)(b+c)(c+a). OR Solve by Cramer's rule: 1/x+1/y+1/z=1; 2/x+5/y+3/z=0; 1/x+2/y+4/z=3.

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2025Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Combine the columns to expose a common structure, expand, then simplify using s=a+b+cs=a+b+c.

Let s=a+b+cs=a+b+c and Δ=∣s−c−b−cs−a−b−as∣\Delta=\begin{vmatrix}s&-c&-b\\ -c&s&-a\\ -b&-a&s\end{vmatrix}.

Step 1 — combine columns: apply C1→C1+C2+C3C_1\to C_1+C_2+C_3:

Row 1: s−c−b=s−b−c=as-c-b = s-b-c = a; Row 2: −c+s−a=s−a−c=b-c+s-a=s-a-c=b; Row 3: −b−a+s=s−a−b=c-b-a+s=s-a-b=c.

Δ=∣a−c−bbs−ac−as∣\Delta = \begin{vmatrix}a&-c&-b\\ b&s&-a\\ c&-a&s\end{vmatrix}

Step 2 — expand along the new C1C_1:

Δ=a(s2−a2)−b(−cs−ab)+c(ac+bs)=as2−a3+ab2+ac2+2bcs\Delta = a(s^2-a^2) - b(-cs-ab) + c(ac+bs) = as^2-a^3+ab^2+ac^2+2bcs

Step 3 — substitute s=a+b+cs=a+b+c and expand as2=a(a+b+c)2as^2=a(a+b+c)^2:

as2−a3=ab2+ac2+2a2b+2a2c+2abcas^2-a^3 = ab^2+ac^2+2a^2b+2a^2c+2abc

Add the remaining terms ab2+ac2+2bc(a+b+c)ab^2+ac^2+2bc(a+b+c):

Δ=2ab2+2ac2+2a2b+2a2c+4abc+2b2c+2bc2\Delta = 2ab^2+2ac^2+2a^2b+2a^2c+4abc+2b^2c+2bc^2

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