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1 vote
1 answer
76 views

Determinant formula for a certain parametrized M-matrix

Let $P_{ij}$ be variables, and let $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$ be the matrix defined by $$ A_{ij} = \begin{cases} -P_{ij} & i \neq j,\\ P_{i1} + P_{i2} + \dots + P_{in} & i=j. \end{cases} $$...
0 votes
0 answers
51 views

Degree of determinant of a (non-monic) matrix polynomial

Let $n=2, 3, \dots$ and consider the matrix polynomial $L(\lambda)=\sum_{k=0}^{\ell}A_k\lambda^k$, where $A_k \in \mathbb{C}^{n\times n}$. In the so-called monic case (or that can be made monic by ...
3 votes
2 answers
257 views

On $\det[x+(\frac{i\pm j}p)]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}$ for primes $p\equiv 3\pmod 4$

I have made the followng conjecture on the basis of my computation. Conjecture. For any prime $p\equiv3\pmod4$ with $p>3$, we have $$\det\left[x+\left(\frac{i+j}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}...
23 votes
2 answers
3k views

Formula expressing symmetric polynomials of eigenvalues as sum of determinants

The trace of a matrix is the sum of the eigenvalues and the determinant is the product of the eigenvalues. The fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials says that we can write any symmetric ...
0 votes
1 answer
102 views

Minimally change matrix with determinant 0

In the following matrix equation, all coefficients $a_{ij}>0$ and all $a_i>0$ and the column sums in the matrix $A$ are all 0 (e.g. $-a_{11}+a_{21}+a_{31}=0$, etc.). This means that the ...
2 votes
0 answers
108 views

Largest prime determinant of a binary matrix

Given an integer $n$, I want to prove the existence of an $n\times n$ binary matrix (with 0,1 entries), whose determinant is a prime number. What is a lower bound on the largest determinant that I ...
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Are automorphisms of matrix algebras necessarily determinant preservers?

Is every automorphism $\phi : A \to A$ of a subalgebra $A \subseteq M_n$ necessarily a determinant preserver? I would assume that the answer is no in general, but I'm unable to find an example (or any ...
10 votes
3 answers
455 views

When does $\det(\frac{A+A^T}{2})=\det(A)$ for positive-definite $\frac{A+A^T}{2}$?

Setup: Let $A$ be a real square matrix and assume its symmetric part $\frac{A+A^T}{2}$ is positive-definite. The inequality $$ \det\left(\frac{A+A^T}{2}\right) \leq \lvert\det(A)\rvert $$ is known as ...
-1 votes
1 answer
825 views

How to calculate determinants of such types?

Consider next determinant that we want to expand around $h=1$ \begin{eqnarray} Z_q \ = \ h^{N N_f} \ \ \left ( \prod_{n=1}^{N} \ \sum_{l_n=0}^{N_f -q} \ h^{2l_n+q} \ \binom{N_f}{l_n} \right ) \ \...
1 vote
0 answers
195 views

Conjectural values of some determinants involving Legendre symbols (II)

Let $p$ be an odd prime, and let $(\frac{\cdot}p)$ denote the Legendre symbol. Motivated by the evaluation of the determinants $$\det\left[\left(\frac{j+k}p\right)\right]_{1\le j,k\le(p-1)/2}\ \ \text{...
9 votes
3 answers
861 views

A curious equation on determinant----linear algebra or algebraic geometry?

I recently find a curious and unexplainable(as seems to me) equation on determinant as follows. $$3\begin{vmatrix} a_1 & b_1 & c_1 & d_1 \\ a_2 & b_2 & c_2 & d_2 \\ ...
2 votes
1 answer
345 views

What's the explicit value of this determinant

Let $n\ge2$ be a positive integer, and let $b_1,\cdots,b_n, c_1,\cdots, c_n$ be variables. Recently, I met the following determinant: $$\det A=\left|\begin{array}{cccc} 1 & b_1+c_1 & b_1^2+c_1^...
4 votes
0 answers
238 views

Conjectural values of some determinants involving Legendre symbols (I)

$\newcommand\Legendre{\genfrac(){}{}}$Let $p$ be an odd prime, and let $\Legendre\cdot p$ be the Legendre symbol. In 2003, Robin Chapman evaluated the determinants $$\det\left[\Legendre{i+j}p\right]_{...
2 votes
0 answers
80 views

Inequality involving minors of an orthogonal matrix

Fix $n \geq 3$ and take any orthonormal vectors $x,y,z \in \mathbb{R}^n$. Let also $A \in M_n(\mathbb{R})$ be a symmetric matrix with positive entries ($A_{ij} = A_{ji} > 0$). Is the following ...
0 votes
0 answers
32 views

Eliminating nullity for enhanced non-singularity

If we have an $n\times n$ matrix $A$ with entries either $0$ or $1$, where all diagonal entries are $0$ and the rank is $k<n$, can we reach full rank by changing exactly $n-k$ zero off-diagonal ...
3 votes
3 answers
979 views

Determinant of Jacobian and directional derivatives

I have a function $f: \Re^2 \to \Re^2$ and would like to understand why $$|Jf(x)|=\max_\theta|D_\theta f(x)|\cdot\min_\theta|D_\theta f(x)|$$ that is, why the determinant of the Jacobian of $f$ at $...
5 votes
2 answers
420 views

Maximum determinant of binary matrices with special properties

Let $A$ be an $n$-by-$n$ binary matrix (all elements are in $\{0,1\}$). It is known that the determinant of $A$ is bounded by $O(n^{n/2} / 2^n)$. I am looking for tighter upper bounds for matrices ...
2 votes
1 answer
94 views

Testing for equal characteristic polynomials using a single determinant calculation

Let $A_1,A_2$ be $n\times n$ symmetric matrices over $\{0,1\}$, and let $p_1, p_2$ be their respective characteristic polynomials over the rationals. If $p_1 \ne p_2$, then there is some positive ...
4 votes
1 answer
237 views

A (bi)alternant formula for Wronskian

We know that there exists similarities between power functions and derivative of a function (in particular, Newton binomial formula and Leibniz rule for derivation of a product can be deduced from ...
28 votes
6 answers
5k views

Expressing $-\operatorname{adj}(A)$ as a polynomial in $A$?

Suppose $A\in R^{n\times n}$, where $R$ is a commutative ring. Let $p_i \in R$ be the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of $A$: $\operatorname{det}(A-xI) = p_0 + p_1x + \dots + p_n x^n$. I ...
4 votes
0 answers
140 views

Does an instance of this generalisation of the determinant exist?

Let $n$ be composite, $d$ a divisor greater than $1$ and $m=n/d$. Does anybody know if there is a general mapping $T$ from $n×n$ matrices to $m×m$ matrices that preserves the determinant? Over a field ...
40 votes
6 answers
6k views

Linear transformation that preserves the determinant

It seems "common knowledge" that the following holds: Let $T$ be a linear transformation on $n\times n$ matrices with complex coefficients that preserves the determinant. Then there exists ...
0 votes
1 answer
525 views

What is the mathematician's definition of the determinant? [closed]

I am trying really hard to find a good definition of the determinant. I have looked virtually every single resource online and everybody gives a different answer: sum of cofactors or minors https://...
0 votes
0 answers
164 views

How to prove negativity of a $3\times3$ determinant whose elements involve trigamma, tetragamma, and pentagamma functions?

The classical Euler gamma function can be defined by the integral \begin{equation*} \Gamma(z)=\int_0^{\infty}t^{z-1}\operatorname{e}^{-t}\operatorname{d}t, \quad \Re(z)>0. \end{equation*} Its ...
7 votes
0 answers
220 views

Why are these two determinants equal?

This question is a follow up on Mark Wildon's comment from an earlier MO question. As usual, let $(q)_k=(1-q)(1-q^2)\cdots(1-q^k)$ with $(q)_0:=1$. Also, define the Gaussian polynomials by $$\binom{n}...
4 votes
0 answers
181 views

Fuss-Catalan: how does equality of these determinants hold?

There are many ways that the Catalan numbers seemed to have been generalized, one among them is through what Graham-Knuth-Patashnik (in Concrete Mathematics) dubbed as the Fuss-Catalan numbers $\frac1{...
5 votes
0 answers
190 views

Yet, another generalization of Catalan determinants

The discussion on this page is motivated by Johann Cigler's MO question. My intention arose from a possible generalization of Cigler's matrix $$A_{n,m}=\left( \binom{2m}{j-i+m}-\binom{2m}{m-i-j-1} \...
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Determinant of structurally symmetric $n$-banded matrix?

Is there a formula to compute the determinant of a structurally symmetric $n$-banded matrix? I am specifically interested in the 5-banded matrix: $$ \left[\begin{matrix} c_{0} & s_{0} & 0 &...
5 votes
0 answers
171 views

Maximal minors of tensor product

Let $r \leq n$ be integers, and let $A$ be an $r \times n$ integer-valued matrix such that each $r\times r$ minor of $A$ is in $\{0, 1,-1\}$. Is it true that each $r^2 \times r^2$ minor of $A\otimes A$...
3 votes
0 answers
295 views

Decomposition of a determinant

Let $M$ be a $4\times 4$ symmetric matrix whose entries $m_{i,j}$ for $i,j =1,\dots,4$ are homogeneous polynomials of degree $2$ in $3$ variables. Assume that $m_{1,1} = 0$. Does there exist a ...
6 votes
3 answers
938 views

Proof of a matrix implication

If $A = \begin{bmatrix} x & 1\\ y & 0\end{bmatrix}, B = \begin{bmatrix} z & 1\\ w & 0\end{bmatrix}$, for $x,y,z,w \in \Bbb{R}$. I have observed by considering many examples of $x,y,z,...
4 votes
3 answers
543 views

Determinant with factorials is not 0?

Below is a simple determinant. I need to show that it is not 0, so that the corresponding matrix is invertible. $$ D = \begin{vmatrix} 0! & 1! & 2! & \ldots & x!\\ 1! & ...
6 votes
1 answer
886 views

One question on block-circulant matrices

Circulant matrices are very useful in digital image processing. I found the general formula for determinant of circulant matrix. But I think it is not suitable for block-circulant matrices. For ...
14 votes
3 answers
849 views

Determinant equal to Fibonacci sequence

I need to find the determinant of matrix defined by \begin{align*} & a_{i,1}=a_{1,j}=1,\quad \forall 1\leq i,j\leq n,\\ & a_{i,j}=a_{i-1,j}+a_{i,j-1}+i-j, \quad \forall 1< i,j\leq n. \...
6 votes
2 answers
940 views

Is it impossible for determinants of these matrices to both be negative?

Suppose $A,B \in M_{n}(\Bbb{R})$ such that $A = \left[C_{1}\middle|\frac{I}{0\dots0}\right], B= \left[C_{2}\middle|\frac{I}{0\dots0}\right]$ , where $A$ and $B$ have different first columns (...
0 votes
1 answer
129 views

A variant of numeric Vandermonde which failed symbolically?

Given some variables $x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n$, the Vandermonde determinant is given by $$V_n(x_1,\dots,x_n):=\det(x_j^{i-1})_{i,j=1}^n=\prod_{i<j}(x_j-x_i).$$ One can take as special cases: $x_j=j$ ...
3 votes
0 answers
185 views

"Circulant-Vandermonde" matrix: in search of a formula

An $n\times n$ circulant matrix $\mathbf{X}_n$ has the form \begin{align} \mathbf{X}_n= \begin{bmatrix} x_1 & x_2 & \cdots & x_{n-1} & x_n \\ x_2 & x_3 & \cdots & x_n&...
5 votes
0 answers
447 views

Determinant of Hankel matrix with $a_n=(n!)^2$

Consider a Hankel matrix of the form $H_n(a_0(n))=\begin{pmatrix} a_0(n) & (1!)^2 & (2!)^2 & \cdots & (n!)^2\\ (1!)^2 & (2!)^2 & (3!)^2& \cdots & ((n+1)!)^2\\ (2!)^2 &...
6 votes
1 answer
402 views

Values of the determinants $\det[(j-k)^m+\delta_{jk}]_{1\le j,k\le n}\ (m=1,2,3,\ldots)$

For positive integers $m$ and $n$, let $D_m(n)$ denote the determinant $\det[(j-k)^m+\delta_{jk}]_{1\le j,k\le n}$, where the Kronecker delta $\delta_{jk}$ is $1$ or $0$ according as $j=k$ or not. ...
16 votes
2 answers
1k views

Definitions of determinant by unique features

A well-known definition of the determinant is: The determinant is the only function of a vector space of dimension $n$ to its underlying field which is multilinear, alternating and normalized. See e....
3 votes
2 answers
302 views

Vandermonde $V_n$ mod $n$

Consider the all-familiar Vandermonde determinant $V_n(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ of the matrix of $(i,j)$-entries $M_n(i,j)=x_j^{i-1}$ so that $$V_n(x_1,\dots,x_n)=\prod_{1\leq i<j\leq n}(x_j-x_i).$$ Let's ...
0 votes
0 answers
99 views

Invertible matrices with bounded nonnegative coefficients

I am teaching a class in linear algebra and I asked myself the following question: what is the chance to get an invertible matrix if I write a random one? My impulsive answer is "very likely"...
2 votes
0 answers
195 views

$\det(I+A) \leq 1$ with equality if and only if $A$ is nilpotent

Suppose we are given the following: An $n \times n$ matrix $A$ (with rational entries). $\operatorname{trace}(A)=0$ $B=A+I$ where $I$ is the $n \times n$ identity matrix. Question. What conditions ...
0 votes
0 answers
57 views

Determinant of barycenter of a hyperbolic-matrix

Let $A \in \operatorname{GL}(d, \mathbb{R})$ be a hyperbolic matrix. I want to show that $$\det((1-\alpha)A+\alpha\operatorname{Id})\geq 1,$$ where $0<\alpha<1$. Attempt: In $\operatorname{SL}(2,...
6 votes
0 answers
392 views

Divisibility properties of minors of matrices

Let $A$ be an $m\times n$ matrix with integer entries. Let $d_i(A)$ be the greatest common divisor of all $i\times i$ minors of $A$, and define $d_0(A)=1$. Whenever $i\leq j$, one has that $d_i(A)$ ...
3 votes
0 answers
207 views

On a variation of the Vandermonde matrix

The ubiquitous Vandermonde matrix, of entries $(x_i^{j-1})_{i,j}^{1,n}$, and its determinant $$\prod_{i<j}^{1,n}(x_j-x_i)$$ have found many utilities in Combinatorics and Physics, among other ...
1 vote
0 answers
125 views

Determinants associated with Stern's diatomic sequence

Consider the so-called Stern's triangle (refer to these slides by R. Stanley), we denote here by $a_n(k)$. In an article Some linear recurrences motivated by Stern’s diatomic array, Stanley provided ...
9 votes
2 answers
515 views

Minors of low rank skew-symmetric matrix

Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ skew-symmetric matrix of rank $r$. Given subsets $X$ and $Y$ of row and column indices respectively, let $A_{X,Y}$ denote the submatrix of $A$ obtained by only keeping rows ...
2 votes
2 answers
323 views

Determinants of minors occurring 'within' determinant of full matrix

$A= (a_{ij})$ is an $n\times n$ symmetric positive matrix. It induces a quadratic form $f(x):= x^tAx$ on $\mathbb{R}^n$. $D_m$ denotes the determinant of the top left $m\times m$ submatrix of $A$ (or ...
0 votes
0 answers
253 views

Determinant of chain complexes

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be the category of bounded cochain complexes of $R$-modules for a commutative ring $R$. I am trying to prove the following formula involving determinant $\text{Det}(F)$ of a map of ...

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