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Graphs and determinants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2016

J. V. Greenman*
Affiliation:
University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ

Extract

I would like to present a method for calculating determinants based on the notion of a graph (or network), a notion that is familiar to many pupils taking a modern mathematics course. The method involves four steps: (i) drawing the graph of the matrix; (ii) identifying certain subgraphs called Δ subgraphs; (iii) associating a number called a weight to each of these subgraphs; (iv) adding the weights to obtain the determinant. Let us take each of these steps in turn.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1976

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References

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