# Find the determinant of $A + I$

Given a real valued matrix $A$ such that $A$ satisfies $AA^T = I$ and $\det(A)<0$, calculate $\det(A + I)$

My start : Since $A$ satisfies $AA^T = I$, $A$ is a unitary matrix. The determinant of a unitary matrix with real entries is either $+1$ or $-1$. Since we know that $\det(A)<0$, it follows that $\det(A)=-1$.

Because the determinant is multiplicative and $AA^T=I$, we have $$\det(A+I)=\det(A+AA^T)=\det(A(I+A^T))=\det(A)\det(I+A^T).$$ Of course $I+A^T=A^T+I$, and $(A^T+I)^T=(A^T)^T+I^T=A+I$. It follows that $$\det(A)\det(I+A^T)=\det(A)\det(A^T+I)=\det(A)\det(A+I),$$ where we use that $\det(M)=\det(M^T)$ for any matrix $M$. The equalities above show that $$\det(A+I)=\det(A)\det(A+I).$$ But you already noted that $\det(A)=-1$, so then we must have $\det(A+I)=0$.

We have:

$$\det(A+I)=\det[A(I+A^T)]=\det(A)\det(I+A^T)=-\det(I+A^T).$$

Now since $\det(M)=\det(M^T)$ for any matrix M, we have:

$$\det(A+I)=-\det(I+A^T)=-\det(I+A),$$

Therefore $\det(A+I)=0$.

There is another interesting proof:

The product of the eigenvalues of $A$ is the $\det(A)$. Since $A$ is orthogonal all eigenvalues lie on the unit circle. Each non-real eigenvalue comes with its complex conjugate so their product is $1$. So $\det(A)=-1$ implies that the eigenvalue $-1$ has odd multiplicity, hence the corresponding eigenspace has dimension at least $1$. Thus, there is a vector $v\ne 0$ with $Av=-v$. We conclude $(A+I)v=0$, and finally $\det(A+I)=0$.

• Is it immediately clear that $\pm1$ are the only possible eigenvalues? – Servaes Sep 14 '15 at 16:05
• @Servaes You're right. I fixed the argument. – principal-ideal-domain Sep 14 '15 at 17:54

$$\det(A+I)=\det(A+AA^T)=\det[A(I+A^T)]=\det(A)\det(I+A^T)=-\det(I+A^T)$$

By properties of determinants we know $$\det(I+A^T)=\det[(I+A)^T]=\det(I+A)$$ Therefore, $$\det(I+A)=0$$