# Math Help - One more determinant related question.

1. ## One more determinant related question.

Alright, here is another question that I need some help with, I think I have an idea of how to do it but it never hurts to make sure, though

The question states:
solve the following equation.

$
\begin{vmatrix}
0 & 0 & -1\\
3 & x & 0\\
2 & 0 & 3
\end{vmatrix}=x^2
$

My idea is to either, expand by minors, or, to evaluate it by using the main diagonals(?) method.
Which way would be quickest and easiest to do?
Or am I headed in the wrong direction entirely?

2. Originally Posted by quikwerk
Alright, here is another question that I need some help with, I think I have an idea of how to do it but it never hurts to make sure, though

The question states:
solve the following equation.

$
\begin{vmatrix}
0 & 0 & -1\\
3 & x & 0\\
2 & 0 & 3
\end{vmatrix}=x^2
$

My idea is to either, expand by minors, or, to evaluate it by using the main diagonals(?) method.
Which way would be quickest and easiest to do?
Or am I headed in the wrong direction entirely?
$\begin{vmatrix}
0 & 0 & -1\\
3 & x_1 & 0\\
2 & 0 & 3
\end{vmatrix}=2x_1=x^2\rightarrow x_1=\frac{x^2}{2}$

3. Hello, quikwerk!

Solve: . $\begin{vmatrix}0 & 0 & \text{-}1\\ 3 & x & 0\\ 2 & 0 & 3 \end{vmatrix}\;=\;x^2$

My idea is to either, expand by minors, or, to evaluate it by using the main diagonals method.
Which way would be quickest and easiest to do?
I'd expand by minors.

I can already see all of this: . $\begin{vmatrix}0&0&\text{-}1 \\ 3&x&0 \\ 2&0&3\end{vmatrix} \;=\;x^2$

. . $0\begin{vmatrix}x&0\\0&3\end{vmatrix} \:-\: 0\begin{vmatrix}3&0\\2&3\end{vmatrix} \:-\: 1\begin{vmatrix}3&x\\2&0\end{vmatrix} \;\;=\;\;x^2 \qquad\Rightarrow\qquad 0 \;-\; 0 \;-\;1(0 - 2x) \;\;=\;\;x^2$

Hence: . $2x \:=\:x^2 \quad\Rightarrow\quad x^2-2x \:=\:0 \quad\Rightarrow\quad x(x-2) \:=\:0$

Therefore: . $x \;=\;0,\:2$

4. Take the determinant of the LHS and solve, should be pretty easy.

5. Originally Posted by Soroban
Hello, quikwerk!

I'd expand by minors.

I can already see all of this: . $\begin{vmatrix}0&0&\text{-}1 \\ 3&x&0 \\ 2&0&3\end{vmatrix} \;=\;x^2$

. . $0\begin{vmatrix}x&0\\0&3\end{vmatrix} \:-\: 0\begin{vmatrix}3&0\\2&3\end{vmatrix} \:-\: 1\begin{vmatrix}3&x\\2&0\end{vmatrix} \;\;=\;\;x^2 \qquad\Rightarrow\qquad 0 \;-\; 0 \;-\;1(0 - 2x) \;\;=\;\;x^2$

Hence: . $2x \:=\:x^2 \quad\Rightarrow\quad x^2-2x \:=\:0 \quad\Rightarrow\quad x(x-2) \:=\:0$

Therefore: . $x \;=\;0,\:2$

Don't we want the determinant to be
$x^2$?