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Annals of Mathematics

A Method of Solving Determinants Author(s): G. Macloskie Reviewed work(s): Source: The Annals of Mathematics, Second Series, Vol. 1, No. 1/4 (1899 - 1900), pp. 74-76 Published by: Annals of Mathematics Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1967271 . Accessed: 03/11/2011 20:18
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A METHOD

OF

SOLVING

DETERMINANTS.

BY G. MAoKIE. BY a simple Methodof Compres8ion we can reduce a determinant to to of another lower order,so as greatly lessen the labor of its evaluation. theorem: thefollowing dependson This method
abc
efg 1

..

1 1 e f = a b c a b

1.. g -c

a jkl..
\
-

C c ic~~k 1j

j
a)
(I-aa) .

(b

c j(k

) a=

a) (c
(

l
a

|(~f-a e )
(kU

- e)**|

j)

of We have thusreacheda new determinant a lower orderwhich,when is of multiplied one of theelements the original, equal to the originaldeby terminant. fromthe originalby the following We can obtain this result directly generalrule: element as Selectanyoftheelements the chief (as a* b a in themargin): and markit and all theothereleits row and column. Form comnpre80ors e f mentsof by dividingthe chief elementinto the otherele-I with each quotient, mentsof its own row,writing under its propercolumn. Then the sign changed, b elements the columnto which of callingthemarked
the chief element belongs co-compressors,

9
1 c
a (74)

quiredresultis got by thefollowing

the re-

A METHOD

OF SOLVING DETERMINANTS.

75

Rule.- By taking as elementsof a new determinantthe remaining (uneach increased by theproduct of of marked) elements the original determinant, we and its co-compressor, obtain a determinantof lower order, its compressor which, when multipliedby the chief element,is equal to the original determinant. NOTES. (1) If a line drawn diagonally fromthe original position of the chief element strikes the anterior or the upper margin at an even position, corner, we must prefixa minus sign to the reckoningfromthe upper-anterior new determinant: not so when such line strikes an odd marginal position. a (2) We can rectify fractionalcompressor,by multiplyingitselfand all the members of its column by its denominator,which must then be annexed as an external divisor. (See example 1, column 3.') If there is a unit among the elements, by selecting it as chief ele(3) ment, we make the other elements of its row taken with the proper signs the compressors. (Example 2, stage 1.) (4) If zeros occur as compressors or co-compressors,the elements of the columns or rows of the early stage are carried over unchanged into the new stage. Hence we learn that the common method of reducing a line of a (5) to determinant zeros, excepting one element, and thus lowering its order, is only a particularcase of the compressionmethod (as in stages 2 and 3 of example 2). Example 1. 25 - 15 -15 23 5* -10 5 1 810 -1296 (X5) 23 -5 1 9 ) 5 -55 112 5 9 -5
-1

10* 5 5 -2.a 42

340 -40 132 -34

-30 20 -14 3

19 -15

= 10

=10(90720 - 71280)= 194400.

Here the termselected as chief -5 at foot of 1st column) being in an

76

MACLOSKE.

by appearsas + 5 whenmultiplied thenext deterninposition, even marginal determinant 9/5 compressor of thefirst the ant. In orderto rectify fractional above its 5 it we multiply and its columnby its denominator whichis written divisor. as and is also written an external column, is determinant - 15: to it we add of element the first unmarked The first and its co-compressor, 1 x 25 the product of its compressor giving 10 as elementof the new determinant. So for the next elementof the the first samerow,5.23 + 5.9/5.25= 340, givingthe secondclement:and forthethird 25=-30. -.5+(-1) Example 2.
1* 0 0 '1
(

2 0 0

__

0 2 3 4

0
0 0

0 1 1 1
=

~1
_

2 _

)20

10

0
1

0
-

0 -2* 3 4 0
-

1 _

0
1 =-2
0-

1
1

()
-

2
31

0 0

()

2
0

) 3

1 0
0

3 0 0

0 -3

0 -3

0_3
3

0 0 0
--

0 -2

0 -3

1. 21
=-6 1 3 1 =-6

1 0
=-l;(-2)=12.

4 1 2 -1

-2-2

was chosenas chiefelementof the second -2, which The diagonalfrom an place,and henceitssigndoes notchange. stageabove,strikes odd marginal an stage,strikes even The diagonal from-3, thechiefelementof thethird the place, and therefore sign changeswhen -3 becomesan externalfactor.
PRINCETON UNIWERSITY, SEPTEMBER, 1899.

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