Let $A$ be a $4$ by $4$ invertible matrix, such that $\det(3A)=3\det(A^4)$. Then $\det(A)=3$.
Would somebody please give me some clues on this? Thanks
Let $A$ be a $4$ by $4$ invertible matrix, such that $\det(3A)=3\det(A^4)$. Then $\det(A)=3$.
Would somebody please give me some clues on this? Thanks
Hints: for a matrix $\,n\times n\,$:
$(1)\;\;\;\;\;\;\det(kA)=k^n\det A$
$(2)\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\det A^k=(\det A)^k$
Recall the fact that $\det(AB) = \det(A) \det(B)\tag{1}$ and $\det(k A) = k^n \det(A)\tag{2}$ where $k \in \mathbb{C}$ and $A \in \mathbb{C}^{n \times n}$.
From $(1)$, we get that $\det(A^4) = \det(A)^4$ and using $(2)$, we get that $\det(3A) = 3^4 \det(A)$. Hence, we get that $3^4 \det(A) = 3 \det(A)^4 \implies \det(A)^3 = 3^3 \implies \det(A) = 3,3 \omega \text{ or }3w^2.$ Assuming $A$ has only real entries, the determinant also has to be real and hence $\det(A) = 3$
$3det(A^4) = 3(detA)^4$
$= det(3A) = 3^4det(A)$
$(detA)^4 - 27 det(A) = 0$
Since $A$ is invertible we can divide by $det(A)$
$(detA)^3 =27$
$detA = 3$