Assignment No 3 (Determinants)

1. Evaluate the determinants of the following 2 x 2 matrices and hence determine whether or not

they are invertible.

2 7 − 4 7  8 9  11 13 
(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)  
 1 4  3 − 5 3 4 12 14 

2. Find the row echelon form for the following matrices by using elementary row operations.
 −1 1 2  1 −2 4  1 0 4 
     
(a)  2 4 − 1 (b)  3 1 − 2  (c)  3 1 − 2 
 0 −1 1   1 5 − 10   1 5 − 10 
     
a b c
 
3. Suppose A =  d e f  has determinant 5. Find
g h i 
 
3 a 3 b 3c a + 2d b + 2c c + 2f d e f
(a) 2d 2e 2f (b) d − g e−f f − i (c) g g i (d) det(7A)
−1g − h − i g h i a b c

4. Evaluate det(A), det(B) and hence det(AB), where

1 −2 3   5 −1 0 
   
A = 0 3 5  B =  − 3 2 4
3 4 − 2  2 5 0 
  
5. (a) Let U1 and U2 be two n x n row-echelon matrices. Prove that det(U 1 ) det(U 2 ) = det(U 1U 2 )

(b) Show by constructing an example that in general det(A + B) ≠ det(A) + det(B)

( c) Show by constructing an example that in general det(λA) ≠ λ det(A ) .

(d) For what values of a is the matrix

1 2 2 
 
1 3 1  is invertible?
1 3 a 
 
 1 1 1 1
1 1+ a 1 1
6. Show that = abc
1 1 1+ b 1
1 1 1 1+ c

7. Use the product rule for determinants to show that a square orthogonal matrix Q
2 / 3 1/ 3 − 2 / 3
Q = 2 / 3 − 2 / 3 1 / 3 has a value for +1 or -1.
1/ 3 2 / 3 2/3

1+ x 2 3 4
1 2+ x 3 4
8. Show that = x 3 ( x + 10)
1 2 3+x 4
1 2 3 4+x

y + z + 2x y z
9. Factorize the determinant x z + x + 2y z
x y x + y + 2z

10. Suppose α, β and γ are the roots of the cubic equation x3 +px+q = 0 and
S k = α k + β k + γ k .Find S1 , S2 and S3 in terms of p and q and show that

S1 S2 S3
S2 S3 S1 = 8p 3 + 27q 3
S3 S1 S2