The DETERMINANT

Ever got tired of getting told to calculate determinant in your school or high school days but you were that amazing kid who wanted to know what it really meant? I mean you should know what determinant means!

We will understand the determinant meaning via python matplotlib library. I mean we try to visualize things there!

When we multiply a matrix A with some matrix B, then the modulus of determinant of matrix B tells us by how much the original matrix A shrinks or expands after going through the transformation!

The figure is shown here as follows:

If determinant is 0, then matrix A is transformed into a line!

See it forms a line! The matrix B transformed the matrix A which was a square of area 100 into a line of area ZERO! That is the power of determinant!!

The negative determinant however tells us that the orientation is now changed. What do you mean by orientation? Think of it like this way, a matrix A would go to negative x and y axis(suppose they were at first quardant in the beginning ) and with transformation, they move to negative x and negative y axis!

You know we are talking about area. But why area? Its because we are in 2D space, if we go in 3D space… Guess what? Its volume that changes!