Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32196-467-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32196-467-0

Chapter 3 - Determinants - 3.5 Chapter Review - Additional Problems - Page 244: 38

Answer

See below

Work Step by Step

Assume $A$ and $B$ are $n\times n$ matrices with $AB = -BA$ and $n$ is an odd number. Since $AB = -BA$, then $\det(AB) = \det(-BA)$. We also know that $\det(AB) \\= \det(A) \det(B)$ and $\det(-BA)\\= \det(-B) \det(A)\\=(-1)^n \det(-B) \det(A) \\=(-1)^n \det(-B) \det(A)$. Since $n$ is odd, we have$ (-1)" = -1$, and then $\det(-BA) = –\det(A)\det(B)$. As a result, $\det(A)\det(B)=-\det(A)\det(B)$ which is also $\det(A)\det(B)=0$, resulting in $\det(A)=0$ or $\det(B)=$. We know that at least one of the matrices $A$ or $B$ is not invertible since a $n \times n$ matrix is invertible if and only if its determinant is nonzero.
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