College Algebra 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305115546
ISBN 13: 978-1-30511-554-5

Chapter 6 - Section 6.4 - Determinants and Cramer's Rule - 6.4 Exercises - Page 535: 64

Answer

$x=1$

Work Step by Step

We know that for a matrix $ \left[\begin{array}{rrr} a & b & c \\ d &e & f \\ g &h & i \\ \end{array} \right] $ the determinant is given as $D=a(ei-fh)-b(di-fg)+c(dh-eg).$ Thus, we have: $D=x(1\cdot x-x\cdot1)-(1)(1\cdot x-x\cdot x)+1(1\cdot 1-1\cdot x)=x(0)-1(x-x^2)+1(1-x)=x^2-x+1-x=x^2-2x+1$. We know that this is equal to $0$, so $x^2-2x+1=(x-1)^2=0\\(x-1)=0\\x=1$
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