Vandermonde Determinant, what am i doing wrong?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PsychonautQQ
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Determinant
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the determinant of a Vandermonde matrix using the formula provided on Wikipedia. The user initially calculated the determinant as the polynomial yz² - zy² - xz² + zx² + xy² - yx² but found a discrepancy when comparing it to the formula, which includes a term of degree three. The user resolved the issue independently, indicating that the mistake was trivial and related to the application of the cofactor expansion method.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Vandermonde matrices
  • Familiarity with determinant calculation methods, including cofactor expansion
  • Basic knowledge of polynomial expressions and their degrees
  • Ability to interpret mathematical formulas from academic sources
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of Vandermonde matrices in linear algebra
  • Learn about determinant calculation techniques, specifically cofactor expansion
  • Explore polynomial degree determination and its implications in matrix theory
  • Review examples of Vandermonde determinant calculations for deeper understanding
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, students studying linear algebra, and anyone interested in matrix theory and polynomial determinants will benefit from this discussion.

PsychonautQQ
Messages
781
Reaction score
10
EDIT: I figured out what I was doing wrong, trivial mistake. If this could get deleted that would be good.

so using {x,y,z} I'm making a vandermonde matrix; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandermonde_matrix. When calculating the determinant by cofactor expansion I calculate the determinant to be the polynomial yz^2 - zy^2 - xz^2 + zx^2 + xy^2 - yx^2.

However, when I use the formula for calculating the determinant on the wikipedia page i get a different polynomial, one that includes a term of degree 3.

How is this possible? What am I doing wrong? How could the determinant of a 3x3 vandermonde matrix possibly be a polynomial with maximum degree three? Help :-(.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
I don't think there is anyone here called Vandermond Determinant (Dutch?), sorry, so I don't think you will get a reply.
 
WWGD said:
I don't think there is anyone here called Vandermond Determinant (Dutch?), sorry, so I don't think you will get a reply.

Yes, Vandermonde is dutch:
Van = From
Der = The
Mond = Mouth (usually mouth of the human body, but it is likely to mean a place near the end of a river here).
 
I am studying the mathematical formalism behind non-commutative geometry approach to quantum gravity. I was reading about Hopf algebras and their Drinfeld twist with a specific example of the Moyal-Weyl twist defined as F=exp(-iλ/2θ^(μν)∂_μ⊗∂_ν) where λ is a constant parametar and θ antisymmetric constant tensor. {∂_μ} is the basis of the tangent vector space over the underlying spacetime Now, from my understanding the enveloping algebra which appears in the definition of the Hopf algebra...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K