Precalculus Examples

$[\begin{array}{c} - 1 & \cos (c) & \cos (b) \\ \cos (c) & - 1 & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) & - 1 \end{array}]$

Step 1

Choose the row or column with the most $0$ elements. If there are no $0$ elements choose any row or column. Multiply every element in row $1$ by its cofactor and add.

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Step 1.1

Consider the corresponding sign chart.

$| \begin{array}{c} + & - & + \\ - & + & - \\ + & - & + \end{array} |$

Step 1.2

The cofactor is the minor with the sign changed if the indices match a $-$ position on the sign chart.

Step 1.3

The minor for $a_{11}$ is the determinant with row $1$ and column $1$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} - 1 & \cos (a) \\ \cos (a) & - 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.4

Multiply element $a_{11}$ by its cofactor.

$- 1 | \begin{array}{c} - 1 & \cos (a) \\ \cos (a) & - 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.5

The minor for $a_{12}$ is the determinant with row $1$ and column $2$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.6

Multiply element $a_{12}$ by its cofactor.

$- \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.7

The minor for $a_{13}$ is the determinant with row $1$ and column $3$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 1.8

Multiply element $a_{13}$ by its cofactor.

$\cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 1.9

Add the terms together.

$- 1 | \begin{array}{c} - 1 & \cos (a) \\ \cos (a) & - 1 \end{array} | - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2

Evaluate $| \begin{array}{c} - 1 & \cos (a) \\ \cos (a) & - 1 \end{array} |$ .

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Step 2.1

The determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix can be found using the formula $| \begin{array}{c} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} | = a d - c b$ .

$- 1 (- - 1 - \cos (a) \cos (a)) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2

Simplify the determinant.

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Step 2.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.2.1.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- 1 (1 - \cos (a) \cos (a)) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2.1.2

Multiply $- \cos (a) \cos (a)$ .

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Step 2.2.1.2.1

Raise $\cos (a)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- 1 (1 - (\cos^{1} (a) \cos (a))) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2.1.2.2

Raise $\cos (a)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- 1 (1 - (\cos^{1} (a) \cos^{1} (a))) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2.1.2.3

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- 1 (1 - {\cos (a)}^{1 + 1}) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2.1.2.4

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$- 1 (1 - \cos^{2} (a)) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 2.2.2

Apply pythagorean identity.

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} | + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 3

Evaluate $| \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & \cos (a) \\ \cos (b) & - 1 \end{array} |$ .

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Step 3.1

The determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix can be found using the formula $| \begin{array}{c} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} | = a d - c b$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (\cos (c) \cdot - 1 - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 3.2

Simplify each term.

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Step 3.2.1

Move $- 1$ to the left of $\cos (c)$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- 1 \cdot \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 3.2.2

Rewrite $- 1 \cos (c)$ as $- \cos (c)$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) | \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$

Step 4

Evaluate $| \begin{array}{c} \cos (c) & - 1 \\ \cos (b) & \cos (a) \end{array} |$ .

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Step 4.1

The determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix can be found using the formula $| \begin{array}{c} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} | = a d - c b$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) - \cos (b) \cdot - 1)$

Step 4.2

Multiply $- \cos (b) \cdot - 1$ .

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Step 4.2.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + 1 \cos (b))$

Step 4.2.2

Multiply $\cos (b)$ by $1$ .

$- 1 \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5

Simplify the determinant.

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Step 5.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 5.1.1

Rewrite $- 1 \sin^{2} (a)$ as $- \sin^{2} (a)$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c) - \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.2

Apply the distributive property.

$- \sin^{2} (a) - \cos (c) (- \cos (c)) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3

Multiply $- \cos (c) (- \cos (c))$ .

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Step 5.1.3.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + 1 \cos (c) \cos (c) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3.2

Multiply $\cos (c)$ by $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos (c) \cos (c) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3.3

Raise $\cos (c)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{1} (c) \cos (c) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3.4

Raise $\cos (c)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{1} (c) \cos^{1} (c) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3.5

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- \sin^{2} (a) + {\cos (c)}^{1 + 1} - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.3.6

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) - \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.4

Multiply $- \cos (c) (- \cos (b) \cos (a))$ .

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Step 5.1.4.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + 1 \cos (c) (\cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.4.2

Multiply $\cos (c)$ by $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) (\cos (b) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos (b))$

Step 5.1.5

Apply the distributive property.

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a) + \cos (b) (\cos (c) \cos (a)) + \cos (b) \cos (b)$

Step 5.1.6

Multiply $\cos (b) \cos (b)$ .

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Step 5.1.6.1

Raise $\cos (b)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a) + \cos (b) \cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos^{1} (b) \cos (b)$

Step 5.1.6.2

Raise $\cos (b)$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a) + \cos (b) \cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos^{1} (b) \cos^{1} (b)$

Step 5.1.6.3

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a) + \cos (b) \cos (c) \cos (a) + {\cos (b)}^{1 + 1}$

Step 5.1.6.4

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a) + \cos (b) \cos (c) \cos (a) + \cos^{2} (b)$

Step 5.2

Reorder the factors in the terms $\cos (c) \cos (b) \cos (a)$ and $\cos (b) \cos (c) \cos (a)$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + \cos (a) \cos (b) \cos (c) + \cos (a) \cos (b) \cos (c) + \cos^{2} (b)$

Step 5.3

Add $\cos (a) \cos (b) \cos (c)$ and $\cos (a) \cos (b) \cos (c)$ .

$- \sin^{2} (a) + \cos^{2} (c) + 2 \cos (a) \cos (b) \cos (c) + \cos^{2} (b)$