Question
Using cofactors of elements of third column, evaluate $\Delta=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}1 & x & y z \\ 1 & y & z x \\ 1 & z & x y\end{array}\right|$

Answer

$\Delta$ = a13A13 + a23A23 + a33A33

= yz( z - y) + zx( x - z) + xy( y - x)

= yz2 - y2z + zx2 - z2x + xy2 - x2y

= zx2 - x2y + xy2 - z2x + yz2 - y2z

= x2 ( z- y) + x(y2 - z2) + yz(z - y)  

= (z - y)[ x2 - x( z + y) + yz]

= (z - y)[x2 - xz - xy +yz]

= (z - y) [ x(x - y) - z(x - y)]

= (z - y)[ ( x - y)(x - z)]

= (z - y)( x - y) (x - z)

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