# Determinant of Large Matrix with Gauss rule?

$$A=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 & 2 \\ 2 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 & 2 & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\ \end{pmatrix}$$

With the lower determinant method, I got $det(A)=-2$ but my task is to use Gauss method to find out determinant. I know that for a triangular matrix $B$, $det(B)=\prod b_{ii}$ i.e. the trace (product of diagonal things). Now I can make this into a triangular matrix by Gauss Jordan but I cannot understand yet what does it mean that solve the determinant with Gauss method or Gauss rule whatever you call it? I am on page 741 XI.5:4, here (not English), it should be trivial problem but stuck to this.

ERR: what is the problem with this, trying to use the G.E.?

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You take a matrix $A$. Apply Gaussian elimination (elementary row operations) and reduce $A$ to an upper triangular form. Then the so-called solving the determinant will be simply computing the determinant of the resulting triangular matrix. –  user2468 Mar 4 '12 at 22:48
Terminology alert: "trace" does not mean the product of the diagonal elements -- it is the sum of the diagonal elements, and is a different thing from the determinant. –  Henning Makholm Mar 4 '12 at 23:27
In the second step you are doing two conflicting row operations at the same time, and it seems you have gotten them mixed up. If the first operation changes the $2$ to a $0$ before subtracting row 3 from row 4, it should also change the $0$ to $\frac 83$ before subtracting that from the lower right $1$. –  Henning Makholm Mar 4 '12 at 23:30
@HenningMakholm: thanks, clearly it is "true" now that it is hard to do two things at the same time. Thanks for the notice. Irritating mistake. (the latter thing about truth was meant to be self-irony --- how easy problem with enough eye-balls!) –  hhh Mar 5 '12 at 1:37

Performing Gaussian Elimination on $$A=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 & 2 \\ 2 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 & 2 & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\ \end{pmatrix}$$ we get $$\begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 & 2 \\ 0 & ? & ? & ? \\ 0 & 0 & ? & ? \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & ? \\ \end{pmatrix}$$ which has the determinant (see property 9 here): $$1 \times ?\times ? \times ? = -2$$ Since this is a (homework) question, I will let you fill in all the blanks.

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...yes but look I can substract third row as many times as possible from the second row (i.e. I can change the diagonals so getting many different determinants which must be false), it is not unique in that way. My problem lies in this point. Could cover this point? –  hhh Mar 4 '12 at 22:42
@hhh start with the first row and the first column. That's your pivot. Try to zero out entries in column 1 & rows 1,2. Then move to entry (2,2) that's your new pivot. Try to zero out all the entries in column 2 below (2,2). That's how Gaus.-Elim. works. –  user2468 Mar 4 '12 at 22:45
Look at the updated q, where do I do the mistake? (I left out the inverse matrix thing because I do not need it afaik) –  hhh Mar 4 '12 at 22:59
@hhh First matrix is okay. Second matrix is okay. Transition from 2nd matrix to 3rd matrix is wrong. Do only one row operation, namely to zero out (3,2). Your 3rd matrix should have the 4th row: $[0, 0, 1, 1]$. Then to get the 4th matrix, add $(-1/2)*[0,0,2,8/3]$ to $[0,0,1,1]$. That should get you exactly what you want. Also note that as Henning pointed out, trace is the sum of the diagonal entries. The determinant as in my solution above is the product of the diagonal entries. –  user2468 Mar 4 '12 at 23:38
...yes but what about with $\pm$ -additions? Look at the updated q, how do I take them into account in calculating the $det(A)$? –  hhh Mar 4 '12 at 23:03