# Determinant with variables [duplicate]

What is the following determinant?

$$\begin{vmatrix}1+a & b & c & d \\a & 1+b & c & d \\a & b & 1+c & d \\a & b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}$$

I calculated it as $0$ but I do not think it is right. Thanks in advance.

• If you set all four variables to $0$, you get $1$. So you are right to think you are wrong. – user65203 Nov 5 '16 at 14:39

Subtract row $2$ from row $1$, row $3$ from row $2$, and row $4$ from row $3$. You get $$\begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & -1 \\ a & b & c & 1+d \end{bmatrix}$$ If you expand along the fourth row, all the $3 \times 3$ determinants will be upper or lower triangular. So, the determinants will be the product of the diagonals.

• @ThomasAndrews I'm referring to the diagonals of the $3 \times 3$ submatrices that you get when you carry out the calculation, not the $4 \times 4$ matrix given. – Joe Johnson 126 Nov 5 '16 at 14:50

$$\begin{vmatrix}1+a& b & c & d \\a & 1+b & c & d \\a & b & 1+c & d \\a & b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}=\begin{vmatrix}1 & b & c & d \\0 & 1+b & c & d \\0 & b & 1+c & d \\0 & b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}a & b & c & d \\a & 1+b & c & d \\a & b & 1+c & d \\a & b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}\\ =\begin{vmatrix}1+b & c & d \\b & 1+c & d \\ b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}a & b & c & d \\0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\0 &0 & 1 & 0 \\0&0 & 0 & 1\end{vmatrix}\\ =\begin{vmatrix}1 & c & d \\0 & 1+c & d \\ 0 & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}b & c & d \\b & 1+c & d \\ b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+a\\ =\begin{vmatrix}1+c & d \\ c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}b & c & d \\0& 1 & d \\ 0 & 0& 1 \end{vmatrix}+a\\ =\begin{vmatrix}1 & d \\ 0 & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}c & d \\ c & 1+d \end{vmatrix}+b+a\\ =\begin{vmatrix}1+d \end{vmatrix}+\begin{vmatrix}c & d \\ 0& 1 \end{vmatrix}+b+a\\ =1+d+c+b+a.$$

The matrix is $I-A$ where $A$ is a matrix with a triple eigenvalue $0$ and a fourth eigenvalue $-(a+b+c+d)$. So the characteristic polynomial $\det(I\lambda - A)=\lambda^3(\lambda +(a+b+c+d))$. Setting $\lambda=1$ you get $\det(I-A)=1+a+b+c+d$.

The left eigenvector for $A$ are any vectors $(x,y,z,w)$ with $x+y+z+w=0$ (these have eigenvalues $0$) and vector $(a,b,c,d)$ has eigenvalue $-(a+b+c+d)$. The vectors with eigenvalue $0$ are generated by vectors $(1,-1,0,0), (1,0,-1,0),$ and $(1,0,0,-1)$.

Right eigenvectors are a little messier. If $(x,y,z,w)^T$ satisfies $ax+by+cz+dw=0$, then it is an eigenvector with eigenvalue $0$. And $(1,1,1,1)$ has eigenvalue $-(a+b+c+d)$.

• Could you suggest another way of solving this, because I am a total beginner regarding matrices – user3697365 Nov 5 '16 at 14:45
• I'll wait for others to answer. This is definitely an intermediate level answer, but the only way I know to do it otherwise is to brute-force the calculation. This should, at least, let you know what the answer should be. – Thomas Andrews Nov 5 '16 at 14:46
• Although I voted you up, you should show why the eigenvalues of A are -(a+b+c+d), 0, 0, 0 – Momo Nov 5 '16 at 14:55

If you are not familiar with the concepts used in Thomas Andrews' (elegant) answer; you can try to compute the determinant by using properties to create zeroes.

For example; subtract the second row from the other rows and then add the first column to the second to get:

$$\begin{vmatrix}1+a & b & c & d \\a & 1+b & c & d \\a & b & 1+c & d \\a & b & c & 1+d \end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ a & 1+b & c & d \\ 0 & -1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 & 1 \end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ a & 1+a+b & c & d \\ 0 & -1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 & 1 \end{vmatrix}$$

Now expand the determinant to the first row, reducing it to a $3 \times 3$-determinant. Subtracting $c$ times the second row from the first and $d$ times the third row from the first, you get:

$$\begin{vmatrix} 1+a+b & c & d \\ -1 & 1 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 1 \end{vmatrix}= \begin{vmatrix} 1+a+b+c+d & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 1 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 1 \end{vmatrix}$$

Expanding to the first row again agrees with Thomas Andrews' answer: $1+a+b+c+d$.

Let $$\mathrm v := \begin{bmatrix} a & b & c & d\end{bmatrix}^{\top}$$. Using the Weinstein-Aronszajn determinant identity,

$$\det \begin{bmatrix}1+a & b & c & d\\ a & 1+b & c & d\\ a & b & 1+c & d\\ a & b & c & 1+d\end{bmatrix} = \det \left( \mathrm I_4 + 1_4 \mathrm v^{\top}\right) = 1 + \mathrm v^{\top} 1_4 = \color{blue}{1 + a + b + c + d}$$