Unifying Linear Algebra

MaRDI QIDQ6438993zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors J. Dydak

Publication date 2 June 2023

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Linear equations (linear algebraic aspects) (15A06) Determinants, permanents, traces, other special matrix functions (15A15)

Abstract: We unify Linear Algebra by proposing a definition of determinants via one equation that implies all known properties of them:\ 1. Cramer's Rule,\ 2. Cofactor expansion,\ 3. Antisymmetry of determinants,\ 4. Linearity of determinants,\ 5. Uniqueness of determinants up to a constant.\ 6. $det(AcdotB)=det(A)cdotdet(B)$ for square matrices,\ 7. $det(A^T)=det(A)$ for square matrices. In other words, we propose a top-down approach to determinants: instead of building up slowly via definitions, we propose one equation that implies all of the above properties. It also leads naturally to basic concepts of Linear Algebra: linear combinations, linear independence, basis, dimension.

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