The determinant is a scalar value that can be computed from the elements of a square matrix. It provides important information about the matrix, such as whether the matrix is invertible (i.e., whether it has an inverse) and how the matrix transforms space. Here's a brief overview:

For a 2x2 Matrix:

Given a matrix $A$ as: $A = \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}$ The determinant of $A$, denoted as $\text{det}(A)$ or $|A|$, is calculated as: $\text{det}(A) = ad - bc$

For a 3x3 Matrix:

Given a matrix $B$ as:

a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{pmatrix}$$ The determinant of $$B$$ is calculated as: $$\text{det}(B) = a(ei - fh) - b(di - fg) + c(dh - eg)$$ ### **Properties of Determinants:** 1. **Invertibility:** A matrix is invertible if and only if its determinant is non-zero. 2. **Effect on Volume:** The absolute value of the determinant represents the scaling factor by which the matrix changes area (in 2D) or volume (in 3D). 3. **Significance of Zero Determinant:** A determinant of zero indicates that the matrix maps vectors to a lower-dimensional space, implying linear dependence among the rows or columns. ### **Applications:** - **Solving Systems of Equations:** Using Cramer's Rule. - **Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors:** The determinant is used to find these by solving the characteristic equation. - **Geometric Interpretation:** It helps in understanding the transformation properties of the matrix. Would you like more details or have any questions? ### **Relative Questions:** 1. How is the determinant used in Cramer's Rule for solving linear systems? 2. What is the significance of the determinant in matrix inversion? 3. How does the determinant help in finding eigenvalues? 4. What are the properties of determinants under matrix multiplication? 5. How does the determinant relate to the area or volume in geometric transformations? ### **Tip:** When calculating the determinant of larger matrices (e.g., 4x4 or higher), use methods like cofactor expansion or row reduction to simplify the process.