---
title: "determinants"
source: https://www.jemoka.com/posts/kbhdeterminants/
---

For a matrix, for instance, like:
\begin{equation} \begin{bmatrix} a &amp; b \\ c &amp; d \end{bmatrix} \end{equation}
We wish to find the matrix&rsquo;s determinant; we write it down as:
\begin{equation} \begin{vmatrix} a &amp; b \\ c &amp; d \end{vmatrix} \end{equation}
geometric interpretation of determinants Geometrically, determinants are how matrices send a unit object after its mapping; i.e. how does it transform the area of a unit square.
determinants can be computed along any axes You can pick any row or column as the &ldquo;axes&rdquo;, and expand the matrix along any direction
