⚖️ Deciding factor 🗝️ Deciding 🧬 Binding site 🔢 Matrix value

determinant

9.5

A number calculated from a square grid of numbers that helps solve many equations

noun
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnənt/

Specialized

: determinante

The professor explained that the determinant of a 2x2 matrix can be calculated using a simple formula.

Examples

Now the determinant of a product is the determinant of this guy.
So W is the determinant of this and this.
Given a matrix, we can expand the determinant as

Blog text (13)
So note the determinant of A inverse.
So I'll use DN for the determinant of an.
In order to find the solution, you must first compute the determinant of the matrix.
To determine if the linear equations have a unique solution, we calculate the determinant of the coefficient matrix.

Compounds

antigenic determinant

Specialized

8.0

The small part of a germ or protein that an antibody sticks to

Surface Forms

determinant singular

determinants plural

Morphology

determinant = determine (semi-transparent) = determine + ant

The mathematical term is historically related to the idea of 'that which determines' (properties of a matrix) but is a specialised technical sense not obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Determinant comes from the Latin determinare meaning 'to set limits' or 'decide', from de- and termin- ('end' or 'boundary'), the same root as determine. In mathematics a determinant is a number that 'decides' whether a system of equations has a unique solution, so the name shows its role in fixing the result.