How Do You Spell DETERMINANT?

Pronunciation: [dɪtˈɜːmɪnənt] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "determinant" can be a bit tricky. It is pronounced as /dɪˈtɜːmɪnənt/. The "deter-" comes from the Latin word "determinare" meaning "to limit" or "to set boundaries". The "-ant" is a suffix meaning "one who does something" or "that which does something". Therefore, the word "determinant" means "that which determines" or "one who determines". The spelling of the word reflects its Latin roots, but the pronunciation has evolved over time.

DETERMINANT Meaning and Definition

  1. A determinant, in mathematics, specifically in linear algebra, is a value associated with a square matrix. It is a scalar quantity that summarizes important information about the matrix and is used in several applications, including finding the inverse of the matrix, solving systems of linear equations, and studying transformations.

    To compute the determinant of a matrix, various techniques such as expansion by minors or row operations can be employed depending on the matrix's size and properties. The resulting determinant can be positive, negative, or zero, representing valuable information about the matrix. For instance, a determinant of zero implies that the matrix is singular, meaning it does not have an inverse.

    The determinant's numerical value provides insights into various properties of the matrix, such as its linear dependence or independence, volume scaling factor in transformations, and the area or volume of the parallelogram or parallelepiped spanned by the matrix's columns or rows.

    Determinants are extensively used in various fields, including physics, engineering, and economics, where they play a crucial role in solving linear systems, analyzing geometrical transformations, calculating eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and studying matrix properties.

    In summary, a determinant is a scalar value associated with a square matrix that provides valuable information about the matrix's size, independence, transformation properties, and other crucial characteristics, forming a fundamental tool in linear algebra and other related fields.

  2. 1. A corporate particle, upon the presence of which in the germ cell and its multiplication in the somatic cells developed therefrom depend the inherited characteristics of the future individual. 2. One of the lesser units composed of an aggregation of biophores which go to make up an id.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

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Etymology of DETERMINANT

The word "determinant" has its roots in the Latin word "determinans", which is the present participle of the verb "determinare". "Determinare" is a compound of the prefix "de-" (meaning "down" or "completely") and the verb "terminare" (meaning "to set limits" or "to determine"). The Latin word "determinans" conveys the idea of something that determines or decides.

In mathematics, the term "determinant" was first used in the mid-18th century to describe the specific property of certain square matrices that determines whether they have an inverse or not. The concept of determinants was further developed by mathematicians such as Gabriel Cramer and Carl Friedrich Gauss. Today, the term "determinant" is a fundamental concept in linear algebra and has wider applications in various areas of mathematics and science.

Similar spelling words for DETERMINANT

Plural form of DETERMINANT is DETERMINANTS

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