University of Liverpool, Bengaluru Campus
Study at a world-renowned UK university in India | Admissions open for UG & PG programs.
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,
Get your results instantly with our calculator!
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 Manish,
Here is the link of question paper
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-english-question-paper-2025
Hi Aradhana
Here is the link of Question Paper
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-supplementary-question-paper-2026
Hello Dear Student,
If you've passed Class 10 from CBSE and don't remember your registration number , you can retrieve it using one of these methods:
Hello,
Yes, if you have passed Class 12 but wish to improve your Mathematics marks, you can apply for the CBSE Improvement Examination, subject to the eligibility criteria and registration schedule notified by CBSE. Please keep checking the official CBSE website for the latest notification regarding registration dates and examination
Hello Ananya,
Please specify the class for which you need the question papers. I am providing Class 10 and 12 papers.
Here are the links to the CBSE Half-yearly Question Papers (2025-2026).
Study at a world-renowned UK university in India | Admissions open for UG & PG programs.
Apply for UG & PG programmes from Victoria University, Delhi NCR Campus
Admissions open for UG & PG programs at Illinois Tech Mumbai
Apply for UG & PG courses at University of Aberdeen, Mumbai Campus
UG & PG Admissions open for CS/AI/Business/Economics & other programmes.
Bristol's expertise meets Mumbai's innovation. Admissions open for UG & PG programmes