StreakPeaked· Practice

ExamsJEE MainMaths

If a, b, c are the sides of a scalene triangle, what is the value of the determinant | a b c; b c a; c a b |?

  1. non-negative
  2. negative
  3. positive
  4. non-positive

Correct answer: negative

Solution

The circulant determinant equals 3abc - a³ - b³ - c³ = -(a+b+c)*(1/2)*[(a-b)²+(b-c)²+(c-a)²]; for a scalene triangle a+b+c > 0 and the bracket > 0, so it is negative.

Related JEE Main Maths questions

⚔️ Practice JEE Main Maths free + battle 1v1 →