Chapter 4
DETERMINANTS
P S Laplace
(1749-1827)
Rationalised 2023-24
DETERMINANTS     77
This may be thought of as a function which associates each square matrix with a
unique number (real or complex) If M is the set of square matrices, K is the set of
numbers (real or complex) and f : M → K is defined by f (A) = k, where A ∈ M and
k ∈ K, then f (A) is called the determinant of A