Mathematics · Glossary

What is Determinant?

Definition 15.4 High School Mathematics · Chapter 15 — Vectors and Lines in the Plane

The determinant of $\vec u\,(x, y)$ and $\vec v\,(x', y')$ is

$$\det(\vec u, \vec v) = \begin{vmatrix} x & x' \\ y & y' \end{vmatrix} = x y' - x' y .$$

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