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user44191
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In general, $SL_n/SL_{n - 1}$ is isomorphic to an affine subvariety $X$ of $\mathbb{A}^{2n}$ with coordinate equations given by $\sum_i x_i y_i = 1$.

The map $SL_n/SL_{n-1} \rightarrow X$ is given by: the coordinates $y_i$ are given by the "last" vector (i.e. the last column), which is unaffected by $SL_{n-1}$, and the coordinates $x_i$ are given by the $(n-1)$-minors which ignore the last column (and the $i$th row), with some sign switching. Note that both of these are invariant, and so this is a well-defined map. The equation then comes from the equation for determinants from expansion by minors.

This map can also be reversed: given coordinates $x_i, y_i$ such that $\sum_i x_i y_i = 1$, we can find a matrix $A \in SL_n$ such that the last column of $A$ is $y_i$, and such that the $(n-1)$-minors ignoring the last column are $x_i$. Clearly, we can "fill in" the last column as-is, so we can focus on the minors, using the matrix $A_{n-1}$ with $n - 1$ columns. At least one of the $x_i$ must be nonzero. Fill in the rows of $A_{n-1}$ other than $i$ with a diagonal matrix with first entry equal to $x_i$, and the rest equal to $1$. We then only need to fill the $i$th row. But clearly the equations for each minor tell us one coordinate in that row - try it for yourself to see why. That "fills in" the coordinates, and each of the minors works, so we now have such a matrix $A$.

I claim that this map is well-defined - that it gives us the same class of $SL_n/SL_{n-1}$ no matter which nonzero $x_i$ we choose. Assume we have some $B$ with the same $(n-1)$-minors ignoring the last column (and the same last column) as the $A$ constructed above. Then its $i$th $(n-1)$-submatrix must have determinant $x_i$, which is nonzero, and so must be invertible. Therefore, there is a unique element $M \in SL_{n-1}$ such that $B_{n-1}M = A_{n-1}$ for all rows but the $i$th row. But by checking the other minors, we can then see that $B_{n-1}M = A_{n-1}$ - again, try and see for yourself. Therefore, this map is well-defined. We therefore have that if $M'$ is the extension of $M$ by adding a single $1$-block to $M$, then $BM' = A$.


An idea that may help with this: $SL_{n-1}$ is the intersection of two subgroups of $SL_n$: the subgroup that leaves the last column fixed (which consists of all matrices where the last column is $\begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ \vdots \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}$), and the subgroup that leaves the $(n-1)$-minors fixed (which consists of all matrices where the last row is $\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & \dots & 1\end{pmatrix}$).

user44191
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