Determinant:
Square matrixes have a property known as a determinant. While a determinant of a matrix is written, it is symbolized through vertical bars rather than brackets around the numbers. That differentiates the determinant from a matrix. The determinant of a matrix is the reduction of the matrix to a single scalar number. A determinant of a matrix is found through "expanding" the matrix. There are various methods of "expanding" a matrix and computing its determinant. In this chapter, we will only look at a method known as "expansion by minors."
Before a large matrix determinant can be computed, we must learn how to calculate the determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix. By the given definition, the determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix is calculated as follows:
![252_Determinant.png](https://www.expertsmind.com/../CMSImages/252_Determinant.png)