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How to Find Determinants Without Using a Calculator

With the use of a matrix, mathematicians and scientists can input and manipulate data to find different outputs in an equation. The determinant, represented by the scale factor of a specific matrix, is the result generated from the data. Determinants can also be used to tell if a matrix can be inverted as a singular matrix.

Instructions

- 1
  Label your matrix grid using consecutive letters beginning from the top-left to lower right, labeling horizontally. For example, a 2 x 2 grid should have the top-left box labeled "A," the top-right box labeled "B," the bottom-left box labeled "C" and the bottom-right box labeled "D."
- 2
  Multiply the values from boxes A and D together and B and C together. For example, if box A has a value of 5, D has a value of 10, B is 2 and C is 20, boxes A and D would equal 50 and boxes B and C would equal 40.
- 3
  Subtract the results of B and C from A and D to find the determinants of a 2 x 2 matrix grid. For instance, taking our values found in Step 2, the answer would be 10 since 50 - 40 = 10.

Numerology