# Determinant when rows reversed

Let $C\in M_n(\mathbb{R})$ and let $D$ be the matrix that results when the rows of $C$ are written in reverse order. What is the relationship between $\det(C)$ and $\det(D)$?

What I tried: I was considering writing $D$ as $C$with row $i$ replaced by 1 times row $(n-i)$ added to row i $\forall i \in \mathbb{N}, i\leq n$ and then finding the determinant of the new $D$ and subtracting $\det(C)$, which would then equal $1+\det(C)$ I believe, but I think that this may be incorrect.

• What happens to the determinant in general when you swap rows? Have you tried doing a few small examples? – Justine Feb 20 '16 at 18:32
• It's important to remember that a zero determinant happens when one of the rows can be reduced. So, a zero is always zero, regardless of the row order. So you can't have an additive constant here. – Kaynex Feb 20 '16 at 18:37

Hint: Let $J$ be the $n$-by-$n$ matrix with $J_{1\leq i,j\leq n}=\delta_{i+j,n+1}$ (i.e. $J_{ij}=1$ along the antidiagonal and zero otherwise). What is the matrix $JC$, and what does this tell you about $\det{D}$?
• If one intends the elements of the rows to be reversed instead of the order of the rows, one should consider $CJ$ instead. – Semiclassical Feb 20 '16 at 19:22
• @Raton: Well, $\det{J}\neq -1$ in general (check $n=4$ for example). But it's always either $\pm 1$, and you'll also find that the sign is $4$-periodic e.g. same for $n=5$ as $n=9$. I'd suggest a combination of expansion by cofactors and induction. – Semiclassical Feb 21 '16 at 4:17