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ExamsJEE MainMaths

For which value(s) of x does the determinant of the matrix | 1 (x−3) (x−3)² | | 1 (x−4) (x−4)² | | 1 (x−5) (x−5)² | become zero?

  1. 3 values of x
  2. 2 values of x
  3. 1 value of x
  4. no value of x

Correct answer: no value of x

Solution

Subtracting rows turns this into a Vandermonde-type determinant in the entries (x-3),(x-4),(x-5), which differ by fixed constants. The determinant evaluates to -2 for every x, so it is never zero.

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