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Suppose your friend told you that the following $ 2 \times 2$ matrix is given:$\left[\begin{array}{ll} 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5\end{array}\right] $ and asked you to find its determinant. How would you approach this problem? This is where the concept of determinants comes in. Determinants provide a systematic way to find a scalar value from a square matrix, which is crucial in solving systems of equations, finding the area, and understanding matrix properties. The first exercise of this chapter of the NCERT book is based on the basics of determinants and calculating determinants of different orders of square matrices. NCERT Class 12 Maths Chapter 4 - Determinants, Exercise 4.1 introduces us to the basic idea of determinants and how to evaluate them. This article on the NCERT Solutions for Exercise 4.1 Class 12 Maths Chapter 4 offers clear and step-by-step solutions for the exercise problems to help the students understand the method and logic behind it. For syllabus, notes, and PDF, refer to this link: NCERT.
Question:1 Evaluate the following determinant- $\begin{vmatrix} 2 & 4\\ -5 & -1\end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
The determinant is evaluated as follows
$\begin{vmatrix} 2 & 4\\ -5 & -1\end{vmatrix} = 2(-1) - 4(-5) = -2 + 20 = 18$
Question:2(i) Evaluate the following determinant- $\begin{vmatrix} \cos \theta & -\sin \theta \\ \sin \theta &\cos \theta \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
The given two by two determinant is calculated as follows
$\begin{vmatrix} \cos \theta & -\sin \theta \\ \sin \theta & \cos \theta \end{vmatrix} = \cos \theta (\cos \theta) - (-\sin \theta)\sin \theta = \cos^2 \theta + \sin^2 \theta = 1$
Question:2(ii) Evaluate the following determinant- $\begin{vmatrix}x^2-x+1 & x-1\\x+1 &x+1 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
We have determinant $\begin{vmatrix}x^2-x+1 & x-1\\x+1 &x+1 \end{vmatrix}$
$\begin{vmatrix} x^2 - x + 1 & x - 1 \\ x + 1 & x + 1 \end{vmatrix} = (x^2 - x + 1)(x + 1) - (x - 1)(x + 1)$
$= (x+1)(x^2-x+1-x+1) = (x+1)(x^2-2x+2)$
$=x^3-2x^2+2x +x^2-2x+2$
$= x^3-x^2+2$
Question:3 If $A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2\\ 4 &2 \end{bmatrix}$ , then show that $| 2 A |=4|A|$
Answer:
Given determinant $A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2\\ 4 &2 \end{bmatrix}$ then we have to show that $| 2 A |=4|A|$,
So, $A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2\\ 4 &2 \end{bmatrix}$ then, $2A =2 \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2\\ 4 &2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 4\\ 8 &4 \end{bmatrix}$
Hence we have $\left | 2A \right | = \begin{vmatrix} 2 &4 \\ 8& 4 \end{vmatrix} = 2(4) - 4(8) = -24$
So, L.H.S. = |2A| = -24
then calculating R.H.S. $4\left | A \right |$
We have,
$\left | A \right | = \begin{vmatrix} 1 &2 \\ 4& 2 \end{vmatrix} = 1(2) - 2(4) = -6$
hence R.H.S becomes $4\left | A \right | = 4\times(-6) = -24$
Therefore L.H.S. =R.H.S.
Hence proved.
Question:4 If $A =\begin{bmatrix} 1 &0 &1 \\ 0& 1& 2\\ 0& 0 &4 \end{bmatrix}$ then show that $|3A|=27|A|$
Answer:
Given Matrix$A =\begin{bmatrix} 1 &0 &1 \\ 0& 1& 2\\ 0& 0 &4 \end{bmatrix}$
Calculating $3A =3\begin{bmatrix} 1 &0 &1 \\ 0& 1& 2\\ 0& 0 &4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 &0 &3 \\ 0& 3& 6\\ 0& 0 &12 \end{bmatrix}$
So, $\left | 3A \right | = 3(3(12) - 6(0) ) - 0(0(12)-0(6)) + 3(0-0) = 3(36) = 108$
calculating $27|A|$,
$|A| = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 0 &1 \\ 0 & 1 & 2\\ 0& 0 &4 \end{vmatrix} = 1\begin{vmatrix} 1 &2 \\ 0 & 4 \end{vmatrix} - 0\begin{vmatrix} 0 &2 \\ 0& 4 \end{vmatrix} + 1\begin{vmatrix} 0 &1 \\ 0& 0 \end{vmatrix} = 4 -0 + 0 = 4$
So, $27|A| = 27(4) = 108$
Therefore $|3A|=27|A|$.
Hence proved.
Question:5(i) Evaluate the determinants.
$\begin{vmatrix}3 &-1 &-2 \\0 &0 &-1 \\3 &-5 & 0 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given the determinant $\begin{vmatrix}3 &-1 &-2 \\0 &0 &-1 \\3 &-5 & 0 \end{vmatrix}$;
now, calculating its determinant value,
$\begin{vmatrix}3 &-1 &-2 \\0 &0 &-1 \\3 &-5 & 0 \end{vmatrix} = 3\begin{vmatrix} 0 &-1 \\ -5& 0 \end{vmatrix} -(-1)\begin{vmatrix} 0 &-1 \\ 3& 0 \end{vmatrix} +(-2)\begin{vmatrix} 0 &0 \\ 3& -5 \end{vmatrix}$
$= 3(0-5)+1(0+3) -2(0-0) = -15+3-0 = -12$.
Question:5(ii) Evaluate the determinants.
$\begin{vmatrix}3 &-4 &5 \\1 &1 &-2 \\2 &3 &1 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given determinant $\begin{vmatrix}3 &-4 &5 \\1 &1 &-2 \\2 &3 &1 \end{vmatrix}$;
Now calculating the determinant value;
$\begin{vmatrix}3 &-4 &5 \\1 &1 &-2 \\2 &3 &1 \end{vmatrix} = 3\begin{vmatrix} 1 &-2 \\ 3&1 \end{vmatrix} -(-4)\begin{vmatrix} 1 &-2 \\ 2& 1 \end{vmatrix}+5\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1\\ 2& 3 \end{vmatrix}$
$= 3(1+6) +4(1+4) +5(3-2) = 21+20+5 = 46$.
Question:5(iii) Evaluate the determinants.
$\begin{vmatrix}0 & 1 & 2\\-1 &0 &-3 \\ -2 &3 &0 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given determinant $\begin{vmatrix}0 & 1 & 2\\-1 &0 &-3 \\ -2 &3 &0 \end{vmatrix}$;
Now calculating the determinant value;
$\begin{vmatrix}0 & 1 & 2\\-1 &0 &-3 \\ -2 &3 &0 \end{vmatrix} = 0\begin{vmatrix} 0 &-1 \\ 3& 0 \end{vmatrix} -1\begin{vmatrix} -1 &-3 \\ -2& 0 \end{vmatrix}+2\begin{vmatrix} -1 &0 \\ -2& 3 \end{vmatrix}$
$= 0 - 1(0-6)+2(-3-0) = 6 -6 =0$
Question:5(iv) Evaluate the determinants.
$\begin{vmatrix}2 &-1 &2 \\0 &2 &-1 \\3 &-5 &0 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given determinant: $\begin{vmatrix}2 &-1 &-2 \\0 &2 &-1 \\3 &-5 &0 \end{vmatrix}$,
We now calculate determinant value:
$\begin{vmatrix}2 &-1 &-2 \\0 &2 &-1 \\3 &-5 &0 \end{vmatrix} =2\begin{vmatrix} 2 &-1 \\ -5 & 0 \end{vmatrix} -(-1)\begin{vmatrix} 0 &-1 \\ 3 & 0 \end{vmatrix}+(-2)\begin{vmatrix} 0 &2 \\ 3&-5 \end{vmatrix}$
$=2(0-5)+1(0+3)-2(0-6) = -10+3+12 = 5$
Question:6 If $A=\begin{bmatrix}1 & 1 & -2\\ 2& 1 &-3 \\5 &4 &-9 \end{bmatrix}$ , then find $|A|$.
Answer:
Given the matrix $A=\begin{bmatrix}1 & 1 & -2\\ 2& 1 &-3 \\5 &4 &-9 \end{bmatrix}$ then,
Finding the determinant value of A;
$|A| = 1\begin{vmatrix} 1 &-3 \\ 4& -9 \end{vmatrix} -1\begin{vmatrix} 2 &-3 \\ 5& -9 \end{vmatrix}-2\begin{vmatrix} 2 &1 \\ 5& 4 \end{vmatrix}$
$= 1(-9+12)-1(-18+15)-2(8-5) =3+3-6 =0$
Question:7(i) Find values of x, if
$\begin{vmatrix}2 &4 \\5 &1 \end{vmatrix} =\begin{vmatrix}2x &4 \\6 &x \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given that $\begin{vmatrix}2 &4 \\5 &1 \end{vmatrix} =\begin{vmatrix}2x &4 \\6 &x \end{vmatrix}$
First, we solve the determinant value of L.H.S. and equate it to the determinant value of R.H.S.,
$\begin{vmatrix} 2 & 4 \\ 5 & 1 \end{vmatrix} = 2(1) - 4(5) = 2 - 20 = -18$ and $\begin{vmatrix} 2x & 4 \\ 6 & x \end{vmatrix} = 2x(x) - 4(6) = 2x^2 - 24$
So, we have then,
$-18= 2x^2-24$ or $3= x^2$ or $x= \pm \sqrt{3}$
Question:7(ii) Find values of x, if
$\begin{vmatrix}2 &3 \\ 4 &5 \end{vmatrix}=\begin{vmatrix}x &3 \\2x &5 \end{vmatrix}$
Answer:
Given $\begin{vmatrix}2 &3 \\ 4 &5 \end{vmatrix}=\begin{vmatrix}x &3 \\2x &5 \end{vmatrix}$;
So, we here equate both sides after calculating each side's determinant values.
L.H.S. determinant value;
$\begin{vmatrix} 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 \end{vmatrix} = 2(5) - 3(4) = 10 - 12 = -2$
Similarly R.H.S. determinant value;
$\begin{vmatrix}x &3 \\2x &5 \end{vmatrix} = 5(x) - 3(2x) = 5x - 6x =-x$
So, we have then;
$-2 = -x$ or $x =2$.
(A) $6$ (B) $\pm 6$ (C) $-6$ (D) $0$
Answer:
Solving the L.H.S. determinant ;
$\begin{vmatrix} x & 2 \\ 18 & x \end{vmatrix} = x(x) - 2(18) = x^2 - 36$
and solving R.H.S determinant;
$\begin{vmatrix} 6 &2 \\ 18 &6 \end{vmatrix} = 36-36 = 0$
So equating both sides;
$x^2 - 36 =0$ or $x^2 = 36$ or $x = \pm 6$
Hence answer is (B).
Also read,
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Here are the main topics covered in NCERT Class 12 Chapter 4, Determinants: Exercise 4.1.
1. Definition:
We know that multiplication and addition are basic operations in matrices. In determinants, we evaluate a scalar value from a square matrix using specific rules. For example, for a $2 \times 2$ matrix
$ \left[\begin{array}{ll} a & b \\ c & d \end{array}\right], \quad \text { the determinant is given by } a d-b c $
2. Determinant of a $\mathbf{2 \times 2}$ Matrix: Let the matrix $A$ be defined as:
$A=\left[\begin{array}{ll}a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22}\end{array}\right]$
To evaluate the determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix, use the formula:
$ \operatorname{det}(A)=a_{11} a_{22}-a_{12} a_{21} $
3. Determinant of a $\mathbf{3 \times 3}$ Matrix:
For $3 \times 3$ matrices, the determinant is calculated using expansion by minors.
$ \left|\begin{array}{lll} a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{array}\right|=a(e i-f h)-b(d i-f g)+c(d h-e g) $
Also, read,
Given below are some useful links for subject-wise NCERT solutions of class 12.
Here are some links to subject-wise solutions for the NCERT exemplar class 12.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The determinant is a scalar value of a square matrix which characterize some properties of the matrix.
|2A| = 2^2 = 4 | A |
There are 6 exercises and one miscellaneous exercise given in the NCERT textbook Class 12 Maths chapter 4.
No, CBSE doesn't provide NCERT solutions, you can get NCERT solutions for chapter 4 Class 12 Maths.
The determinant of a singular matrix is always zero.
A matrix that is not singular is called a non-singular matrix. The determinant of a non-singular matrix is non-zero.
Here you will get Syllabus for CBSE Class 12 Maths
There are 13 chapters in the NCERT Class 12 Maths book.
On Question asked by student community
Hi Kanha,
You can download all subjects class 12th question paper from the given link .
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-question-paper-2026
if you need any other resources please let us know.
Dear Student,
You can download the previous CBSE Class 12 marksheet through DigiLocker. You can also access your digital marksheet through platforms such as DigiLocker and UMANG.
Dear Student,
Please refer to the link provided below for the question papers in Hindi :|
https://school.careers360.com/hi/articles/cbse-previous-year-question-papers-class-12
If you need any other resource, do let us know.
Hi Sanjaya,
Please click on the article link below.
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-question-paper-2026
You will find CBSE Class 12 question papers of All Subjects with solutions in a single place.
Hi Lavkush,
Here is the link of question paper
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-political-science-question-paper-2026
if you need any other resources please let us know.
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