determinants and minors

The command det can be used to compute the determinant of a square matrix.

i1 : R = ZZ[a..d];

i2 : f = matrix{{a,b},{c,d}}

o2 = | a b |
     | c d |

             2      2
o2 : Matrix R  <-- R

i3 : det f

o3 = - b*c + a*d

o3 : R

The command minors can be used to construct the ideal generated by the n by n minors of a matrix. Recall that the n by n minors of a matrix are the determinants of the n by n submatrices of a matrix.

i4 : R = QQ[x,y,z];

i5 : f = matrix{{x,y,z},{y,z,x^2}}

o5 = | x y z  |
     | y z x2 |

             2      3
o5 : Matrix R  <-- R

i6 : I = minors(2,f)

               2         3         2     2
o6 = ideal (- y  + x*z, x  - y*z, x y - z )

o6 : Ideal of R