You are here

Home » Programs » Faculty and Departments » Determinants of Sums

Determinants of Sums

by Marvin Marcus (University of California, Santa Barbara)

This article originally appeared in:
College Mathematics Journal
March, 1990

Subject classification(s): Algebra and Number Theory | Linear Algebra
Applicable Course(s): 3.8 Linear/Matrix Algebra | 4.13 Advanced Linear Algebra

An interesting formula for the determinant of the sum of any two matrices of the same size is presented. The formula can be used to obtain important results about the characteristic polynomial and about the characteristic roots and subdeterminants of the matrices being added.


A pdf copy of the article can be viewed by clicking below. Since the copy is a faithful reproduction of the actual journal pages, the article may not begin at the top of the first page.

To open this file please click here.

These pdf files are furnished by JSTOR.

Classroom Capsules would not be possible without the contribution of JSTOR.

JSTOR provides online access to pdf copies of 512 journals, including all three print journals of the Mathematical Association of America: The American Mathematical Monthly, College Mathematics Journal, and Mathematics Magazine. We are grateful for JSTOR's cooperation in providing the pdf pages that we are using for Classroom Capsules.

Capsule Course Topic(s):
Linear Algebra | Determinants
Linear Algebra | Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Average: 3 (39 votes)