Precalculus (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32197-907-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-907-0

Chapter 11 - Systems of Equations and Inequalities - 11.3 Systems of Linear Equations: Determinants - 11.3 Assess Your Understanding - Page 743: 56

Answer

$x=0$ or $x=-\frac{1}{2}$.

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, $D=a(ei-fh)-b(di-fg)+c(dh-eg).$ Hence here $D=x(x\cdot2-3\cdot1)-1(1\cdot2-3\cdot0)+2(1\cdot1-x\cdot0)=-4x\\x(2x-3)-1(2)+2(1)=-4x\\2x^2-3x+4x-2+2=0\\2x^2+x=0\\x(2x+1)=0.$ Hence by the zero product property $x=0$ or $2x+1=0\\x=-\frac{1}{2}$.
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