- #1
flyingpig
- 2,579
- 1
Homework Statement
Compute this determinant
[tex]\begin{vmatrix}
1 & 1& x& 1\\
x& 1& 1 &1 \\
1& 1 & 1 &x \\
1& x & 1& 1
\end{vmatrix}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I tried swapping rows and eventually I got
[tex]-\begin{vmatrix}
x & 1& 1& 1\\
1& x& 1 &1 \\
1& 1 & x &1 \\
1& 1 & 1& x
\end{vmatrix}[/tex]
Now I could row reduce, but I could get two 0s at most and I still have to do two 3 x 3 determinants. Is there an easier way?