Determinants

The most efficient way to evaluate a 4 x 4 determinant is to use row

reduction to create zeros in a row or column, and then to use
expansion by minors along that row/column.
For example, let be the matrix!
" # $% 4
# % & '
( & # $)
$% # % (
Then what we would li*e to do is reduce rows or columns so that one
row/column has as many zeros in it as possible. +emember that
interchanging two rows or columns will negate det,-, as will negating
any row or column of entries. .ultiplying a row or column by a
constant c also multiplies det,- by c. Finally, adding a constant
multiple of a row or column to another row or column will not affect
det,-.
/oo*ing at the above matrix, we notice that by using this last rule we
can get the first column to be!
(
(
(
$%
0e add " times row 4 to row %, which 1 will write as +% $$2 "3+4 4 +%.
This changes row % to!
( 5 # 4
and leaves everything else unchanged. Then we add # times row 4 to
row # ,+# $$2 #+4 4 +#-, so this changes row # to!
( & ' '
and again, everything else is unchanged. 6ur new matrix is!
( 5 # 4
( & ' '
( & # $)
$% # % (.
This matrix has the same determinant as . 7xpanding by minors along
the first column, we clearly see that the first three terms in column
% will contribute ( to the determinant, and so we have!
det,- 8 $,$%- det 9 8 det,9-
where 9 is the " x " determinant!
5 # 4
& ' '
& # $).
,:otice that since the $% appears in the 4th row of column %, it has a
negative sign in front of it in det,--. Then det,9- is easily
calculated to be!
det,9- 8 53'3,$)- 4 #3'3& 4 43&3# $ &3'34 $ #3'35 $ &3#3,$)-
8 $4%5.