document.write( "Question 568945: whta is the determinant of
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Algebra.Com's Answer #367178 by bucky(2189) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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This is a 2-by-2 determinant, meaning that it has two rows and two columns.
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\n" ); document.write( "The value of a 2-by-2 determinant is found by multiplying along the diagonals.
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\n" ); document.write( "The first diagonal to multiply along is the one that goes from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. This diagonal multiplication gives you the product of 2 times 2, which, of course, equals +4.
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\n" ); document.write( "The second diagonal to multiply along is the one that goes from the upper right corner to the lower left corner. This diagonal multiplication gives you the product of 3 times 3 which is +9.
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\n" ); document.write( "The final step is to note the product of the first diagonal multiplication (down and to the right - in this problem +4) and subtract from it the product of the second diagonal (down and to the left - in this problem +9).
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\n" ); document.write( "So the value of this determinant is given by:
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\n" ); document.write( "+4 - (+9) = 4 - 9 = -5
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\n" ); document.write( "The answer to this problem is that the value of the given determinant is -5.
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\n" ); document.write( "In summary, to get the value of a 2-by-2 determinant, first find the product obtained by multiplying down and to the right and second, subtract from that the product obtained by multiplying down and to the left.
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\n" ); document.write( "I hope this helps you to understand the rules for evaluating 2-by-2 determinants.
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