New Method to Compute the Determinant of a 4x4

Matrix
Armend SALIHU *
Qefsere Gjonbalaj**

* Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering -Department of Telecommunication, University of

Prishtina, KOSOVO; E-mail: ar.salihu@gmail.com
** Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Department of Mathematics, University of Prishtina,
KOSOVO; E-mail: qefseregj@hotmail.com

Abstract
In this paper we will present a new method to compute the determinants of a 4 4 matrix. This new
method gives the same result as other methods, used before, but it is more suitable. The advantage of this
method comparing to other known methods is quick computation, so it creates an easy scheme to compute
the determinants of a 4 4 matrix. The results achieved with this method are based on the Sarrus rule,
used for computing the third order determinants.
This new method creates opportunities to find other new methods to compute determinants of higher
orders and enabling the construction of determinant equivalence classes, that will be our paper in the
future.
Key words: methods to compute the determinant of a 4 4 matrix

1. Introduction

Let A be an n n matrix.

a11 a12

a21 a22
A = .
.

.
.
an1 an 2

... a1n

... a2n
... .

... .
... ann

Definition 1. - Determinant of n order will be called sum, which has n! different terms
j1 , j 2 ,..., j n a1 j1 a2 j2 ...anj n which will be formed of the matrix A elements.

a11

a12

... a1n

a21

a22

... a2n

D = det A = A = .
.
an1
Where

.
.

...
...

. = j1 , j 2 ,..., jn a1 j1 a2 j 2 ...anj n
Sn
.

an 2 ... ann

+1, if j1, j 2 ,..., j n is an even permutation

1, if j1, j 2 ,..., j n is an odd permutation

j , j ,..., j =
1

2. Methods to compute the determinants of third order

2.1.Sarruss rule

Using Sarrus rule, we have Scheme 1, which will be formed from the description of two first
columns of the determinants (first and second columns). The terms, which will be formed by the
products of diagonal elements in the right side of scheme 1, become the + sign (red) and the
left side in this scheme become the - sign (blue). In this way we get the Sarrus rule, which are
valuable just to compute the determinants of the third order.
In base of the Sarruss rule we have:

a11

a12

a13

a11

a12

a21 a22 a23 a21 a22 =

a31 a32

Scheme 1

a33 a31 a32

= a11a22a33 + a12a23a31 + a13a21a23 a31a22a13 a32a23a11 a33a21a12 =

= a11 ( a22a33 a32a23 ) a12 ( a33a31 a23a31 ) + a13 ( a21a32 a31a22 ) =

= a11

a22 a23
a32

a33

a12

a21 a23
a31 a33

+ a13

a21 a22
a31 a32

2.2.Triangles rule

The triangles rule will be formed with this scheme and in base of triangles rule we have:

a11

a12

a13

a11

a12

a13

a21 a22

a23 a21 a22

a23 =

a31 a32

a33

a33

a31 a32

= a11a22a33 + a12a23a31 + a13a21a23 a31a22a13 a32a23a11 a33a21a12 =

= a11 ( a22a33 a32a23 ) a12 ( a33a31 a23a31 ) + a13 ( a21a32 a31a22 ) =

= a11

a22

a23

a32

a33

a12

a21 a23
a31 a33

+ a13

a21 a22
a31 a32

The product of diagonal elements, and product of elements in the both vertex of two triangle of
the first determinant, get the + sign and the product of diagonal elements and product of
elements in the both vertex of two triangle of the second determinant get the - sign.
2.3.Chios condensation method

Chios condensation is a method for evaluating an n n determinant in terms of

(n 1) (n 1)determinants.

A=

a11
a21

a12 " a1n

a22 " a2 n

#
# % #
an 1 an 2 " ann

1
a11n 2

a11 a12
a21 a22

a11 a13
a21 a23

"

a11 a1n
a21 a2 n

a11 a12
a31 a32

a11 a13
a31 a33

"

a11 a1n
a31 a3n

a11 a12
an 1 an 2

a11 a13
an 1 an 3

"

a11 a1n
an 1 ann

This method is a method, which determinants of the order n n expansion in determinant of the
(n 1) (n 1) order, than (n 2) (n 2) order and so one.

3. A new method to compute the determinant of the forth order

The new method to compute the determinant of the forth order might be one of the easiest
methods to compute the determinants of the forth order.
Assume a determinant of the forth order:

A =

a11 a12 a13 a14

a21 a22 a23 a24
a31 a32 a33 a34
a41 a42 a43 a44

In base of definition 1, determinant of the forth order (for n=4) can be computed in this way:

a11
a
A = 21
a31
a41

a12 a13 a14

a22 a23 a24
a32 a33 a34
a42 a43 a44

= a11a22a33a44 + a11a24a32a43 + a11a23a34a42 a11a24a33a42 a11a22a34a43

a11a23a32a44 a12a21a33a44 a12a23a34a41 a12a24a31a43 + a12a24a33a41 +
+a12a21a34a43 + a12a23a31a44 + a13a21a32a44 + a13a22a34a41 + a13a24a31a42
a13a24a32a41 a13a21a34a42 a13a22a31a44 a14a21a32a43 a14a22a33a41
a14a23a31a42 + a14a23a32a41 + a14a21a33a42 + a14a22a31a43

So, to compute the determinants of the forth order, we need 4! different terms which will be
formed of the matrix A elements.

3.1.A new method

If we disassemble the forth order determinant using the Sarrus rule, same as we do disassemble
the third order determinants, we obtain:

a11
a
H 1 = 21
a31
a41

a12
a22
a32
a42

a13 a14
a23 a24
a33 a34
a43 a44

a11
a21
a31
a41

a12
a22
a32
a42

a13
a23
=
a33
a43

= a11a22a33a44 a12a23a34a41 + a13a24a31a42 a14a21a32a43 + a14a23a32a41

a11a24a33a42 + a12a21a34a43 a13a22a31a44
In this form we will have 8 different combinations, formed of eight diagonals with four different
elements of determinants. The elements products in first and third diagonals in right and left side
will get the +sign (red diagonals), in the other hand the elements products in four other
different diagonals in right and left side will get -sign (blue diagonals). This will produce four
terms with the +sign and four other terms with the -sign, and as we can see, the sign is
changing in alternative way.
In order to complete this determinant we need 24 combinations, that means we need additionally
16 other combinations for calculating the 4 4 determinant.
What would happen if in the H1 we transpose first and second row?

H2 =

a21 a22

a23 a24

a21 a22

a23

a11

a12

a13

a14

a11

a12

a13

a31 a32

a33

a34

a31 a32

a33

a41 a42

a43 a44

a41 a42

a43

= a12a21a33a44 + a13a22a34a41 a14a23a31a42 + a11a24a32a43 a13a24a32a41 +

+a14a21a33a42 a11a22a34a43 + a12a23a31a44

In this case we get 8 more combinations.

Now if in H2 we transpose the second row with the third one, we will again get 8 more
combinations:

a21 a22
a
a
H 3 = 31 32
a11 a12

a23 a24
a33 a34
a13 a14

a21 a22
a31 a32
a11 a12

a23
a33
=
a13

a41 a42

a43 a44

a41 a42

a43

= a13a21a32a44 a14a22a33a41 + a11a23a34a42 a12a24a31a43 + a12a24a33a41

a13a21a34a42 + a14a22a31a43 a11a23a32a44
If we sum up all the terms of these three combinations we will have in total 24 or 4! terms, same
as a 4 4 determinant has.
Thus, if we do sum these combinations we will have a 4 4 determinant solution:

a11 a12 a13 a14 a11 a12 a13

A = H1 + H 2 + H 3 =

a21 a22 a23 a24 a21 a22 a23

a31 a32 a33 a34 a31 a32 a33

a41 a42 a43 a44 a41 a42 a43

a21 a22 a23 a24 a21 a22 a23

a21 a22 a23 a24 a21 a22 a23

+

a11 a12 a13 a14 a11 a12 a13

a31 a32 a33 a34 a31 a32 a33
a41 a42 a43 a44 a41 a42 a43

a31 a32 a33 a34 a31 a32 a33

a11 a12 a13 a14 a11 a12 a13
a41 a42 a43 a44 a41 a42 a43

= a11a22a33a44 a12a23a34a41 + a13a24a31a42 a14a21a32a43 + a14a23a32a41

a11a24a33a42 + a12a21a34a43 a13a22a31a44 a12a21a33a44 + a13a22a34a41
a14a23a31a42 + a11a24a32a43 a13a24a32a41 + a14a21a33a42 a11a22a34a43 +
+a12a23a31a44 + a13a21a32a44 a14a22a33a41 + a11a23a34a42 a12a24a31a43 +
+a12a24a33a41 a13a21a34a42 + a14a22a31a43 a11a23a32a44
If we compare these results with the results of other methods used before (definition of
determinants, expansion by the elements of whatever row or column, Chios condensation), we
will see that the results are the same.
The results acquired by using the New Method to Compute the Determinant of a 4x4
Matrix are entirely equal with the results acquired by the other known methods until now. In
base of this, we can conclude that this new method to compute the determinants of forth order is
true and can be used only for the forth order determinant.
The results achieved with this method are based on the Sarrus rule used for computing
the third order determinants. Using some combinations it is achieved that this method is
applicable for the forth order determinants.

Conclusion
This new method, comparing with other known methods, is one of the most usable ones, based
on easiness of computing the forth order determinant. Furthermore, this new method enables the
further research in computing methods of higher than forth order determinants. What is more, a
new method, enabling the construction of determinant equivalence classes split into four
similarity classessimilarity gives a finer partition than does equivalence (that is our paper in
the future).

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