Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cofactor
The cofactor of an element in a matrix is a signed minor, which is calculated by taking the determinant of the submatrix formed by deleting the row and column of that element, multiplied by (-1) raised to the power of the sum of the row and column indices. This concept is essential for understanding how to compute determinants and inverses of matrices.
Matrix
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers arranged in rows and columns. Each element in a matrix can be identified by its position, defined by its row and column indices. Understanding matrices is fundamental in linear algebra, as they are used to represent and solve systems of equations, transformations, and more.
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Determinant
The determinant is a scalar value that can be computed from the elements of a square matrix. It provides important information about the matrix, such as whether it is invertible and the volume scaling factor of the linear transformation it represents. The determinant is crucial for calculating cofactors and understanding matrix properties.
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Determinants of 2×2 Matrices