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Math function
MDETERM
Returns the determinant of a square matrix.
Rarely usedDifficulty 1450 · AdvancedUsage rank #376 of 520
When to use it
Determinant of a square matrix. Zero means the matrix cannot be inverted; a system of equations with that matrix has no unique solution.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=MDETERM(array)
Worked examples
2 by 2
=MDETERM({1,2;3,4}) → -2
1×4 - 2×3.
Diagonal
=MDETERM({2,0;0,3}) → 6
Diagonal matrices multiply the diagonal.
3 by 3 range
=MDETERM(A1:C3) → -3
A1:C3 holds 1,2,3 / 4,5,6 / 7,8,10.
Worth knowing
- Check MDETERM before MINVERSE: a zero determinant means #NUM! is coming.
- Array constants use commas between columns and semicolons between rows.
- Values very close to zero indicate a nearly singular matrix and unstable results.
Where it goes wrong
- #VALUE! when the range is not square or contains blanks or text.
- Floating-point residues can make an exactly singular matrix look like 1E-15.
Related
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