Step 1: Identify the elements of the matrix A. The matrix A is given as: | 1 2 | | 3 4 |.
Step 2: Write down the formula for the determinant of a 2x2 matrix. The formula is: det(A) = (a*d) - (b*c), where a, b, c, and d are the elements of the matrix.
Step 3: Assign the values from the matrix to the variables in the formula. Here, a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, and d = 4.
Step 4: Substitute the values into the determinant formula: det(A) = (1*4) - (2*3).
Step 5: Calculate the multiplication: 1*4 = 4 and 2*3 = 6.
Step 6: Subtract the second result from the first: 4 - 6 = -2.
Step 7: Conclude that the determinant of matrix A is -2.
Determinant of a 2x2 Matrix – The determinant of a 2x2 matrix A = | a b | | c d | is calculated using the formula det(A) = ad - bc.
