# Calculate determinant with induction

I need to prove the following, with induction to every $1 \leq n$: $$D(a_1,...,a_n) = \left| \begin{array}{ccc} a_1+x& a_2 & a_3 & \cdots & a_n \\ a_1& a_2+x & a_3 & \cdots & a_n \\ a_1& a_2 & a_3+x & \cdots & a_n \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & & \vdots \\ a_1& a_2 & a_3 & \cdots & a_n + x \end{array} \right| = x^n + (a_1 + \cdots + a_n)x^{n-1}$$

I played with it a bit and couldn't find a way to prove it.

This is what I did: I assumed that it is correct for $n$, and tried to solve it for $n+1$

$$D(a_1, \ldots , a_n, a_{n+1}) = \left| \begin{array}{ccc} a_1+x& a_2 & a_3 & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ a_1& a_2+x & a_3 & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ a_1& a_2 & a_3+x & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & & \vdots \\ a_1& a_2 & a_3 & \cdots & a_{n+1} + x \end{array} \right|$$

and I did the following operation on the determinant ($R_{n+1} \to R_{n+1} - R_1$) and got:

$$\left| \begin{array}{ccc} a_1+x& a_2 & a_3 & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ a_1& a_2+x & a_3 & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ a_1& a_2 & a_3+x & \cdots & a_{n+1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & & \vdots \\ -x& 0 & \cdots & 0 & x \end{array} \right|$$

And I wasn't sure on how to proceed from here, or even if I'm on the right path.

• Try doing cofactor expansion along the bottom row now – Jon Warneke Nov 28 '15 at 17:54
• @JonWarneke of course I've tried, just couldn't get to the solution. – Dan Revah Nov 28 '15 at 17:56

Developing with respect to the last row, after performing those elementary row operations (that don't change the determinant), you get $$D(a_1,\dots,a_n,a_{n+1})=\\ xD(a_1,\dots,a_n)+(-1)^{(n+1)+1}(-x)\det\begin{bmatrix} a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ a_2+x & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ a_2 & a_3+x & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots\\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n+x & a_{n+1} \end{bmatrix}$$ Doing $n-1$ row swaps, the determinant we need is \begin{multline} \det\begin{bmatrix} a_2+x & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ a_2 & a_3+x & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots\\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n+x & a_{n+1} \\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \end{bmatrix}=\\ \det\begin{bmatrix} a_2+x & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ a_2 & a_3+x & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots\\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n+x & a_{n+1} \\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n & a_{n+1}+x \end{bmatrix}-\\ \det\begin{bmatrix} a_2+x & a_3 & \dots & a_n & 0 \\ a_2 & a_3+x & \dots & a_n & 0 \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots\\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n+x & 0 \\ a_2 & a_3 & \dots & a_n & -x \end{bmatrix}=\\[6px] D(a_2,\dots,a_{n+1})-xD(a_2,\dots,a_n) \end{multline} Therefore $$D(a_1,\dots,a_n,a_{n+1})= xD(a_1,\dots,a_n)+ x(D(a_2,\dots,a_{n+1})-xD(a_2,\dots,a_n))$$ By the induction hypothesis, \begin{multline} xD(a_1,\dots,a_n)+ x(D(a_2,\dots,a_{n+1})-xD(a_2,\dots,a_n))=\\ x(x^n+(a_1+\dots+a_n)x^{n-1})+\\ \qquad x(x^n+(a_2+\dots+a_{n+1})x^{n-1}-x^n-(a_2+\dots+a_n)x^{n-1})=\\ x^{n+1}+(a_1+\dots+a_n+a_{n+1})x^n \end{multline}
Note that you have to check the induction basis for $n=1$ and $n=2$, which is easy.
First, developing with respect to the last column, your $D_{n+1}$ is of the form $Aa_{n+1}+B$. If you put $a_{n+1}=0$, you get $B=xD_n$. Now divide $D_{n+1}$ by $a_{n+1}$ (divide only the entries of the last column) and let $a_{n+1} \to +\infty$. The last column in this new determinant $T$ has now only $1$ as entries. Now in $T$ subtract to the first column $a_1$ times the last column, and do the same for the other columns. Then you find easily that this determinant $T$ is $x^n$, hence $A=x^n$ and $D_{n+1}=x^na_{n+1}+xD_n$, and we are done.
• Thank you for your answer! what do you mean by $a_{n+1} \to +\infty$? – Dan Revah Nov 28 '15 at 18:08
• I have supposed that the entries are real ; here $a_{n+1}$ is considered as a real variable, that go to $+\infty$. – Kelenner Nov 28 '15 at 18:11
• sorry but I still don't understand what it means 'plus infinity'. I understood most of your answer, you said to divide the last column by $a_{n+1}$ and after doing it you get '1' to be in all of the column except from the last column in the last row, which is $x/a_{n+1}$ and you did that opearation $a_{n+1} \to +\infty$ ? what is it actually saying? – Dan Revah Nov 28 '15 at 18:26
• I do not understand your problem. You have certainly seen for example in $\mathbb{R}$ we have $\frac{1}{y} \to 0$ if $y\to +\infty$ ? – Kelenner Nov 28 '15 at 18:36
• Yes, but the limit of $(\frac{x}{a_{n+1}})$ if $a_{n+1}\to \infty$ is $=0$. So after having let $a_{n+1}\to \infty$, the new determinant $T$ has a last column with only $1$ as entries. – Kelenner Nov 28 '15 at 18:48