Q25. - Algebra 2

Question

Find the value of each determinant.

 

$\left|\begin{array}{cc}7& 5.2\\ -4& 1.6\end{array}\right|$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The value of the determinant $\left|\begin{array}{cc}7& 5.2\\ -4& 1.6\end{array}\right|=32$.

Step 1 - Define the determinant of second-order matrix

The determinant of second order matrix is found by calculating the difference of the product of the two diagonals, that is.,  $\left|\begin{array}{cc}a& b\\ c& d\end{array}\right|=ad-bc$.

Step 2 - Find the determinant

Apply the definition of the method of finding determinant of second order 

matrix $\left|\begin{array}{cc}7& 5.2\\ -4& 1.6\end{array}\right|$.

$\left|\begin{array}{cc}7& 5.2\\ -4& 1.6\end{array}\right|=7\times \left(1.6\right)-\left(-4\right)\left(5.2\right)$

Step 3 - Simplify

To further simplify multiply the values first.

 

 $\begin{array}{c}\left|\begin{array}{cc}7& 5.2\\ -4& 1.6\end{array}\right|=7\times \left(1.6\right)-\left(-4\right)\left(5.2\right)\\ =\text{11.2}+\text{20.8}\\ =\text{32}\end{array}$