Determinant of a 2 by 2 Matrix
Move the points below and observe what happens. Calculate the determinant of the matrix and note your observations. Only move the slider once you have answered the questions below.
Questions
1.) How are the coordinates of the points related to the square matrix?
2.) What do you observe about the determinant of the matrix? How is it related to the figure?
3.) When is the determinant positive, negative, or 0?
4.) Based on your findings in questions 1 to 3, make a conjecture about the determinant of a 2 by 2 matrix.