Question
Show that $\begin{vmatrix}\text{x}-3&\text{x}-4&\text{x}-\alpha\\\text{x}-2&\text{x}-3&\text{x}-\beta\\\text{x}-1&\text{x}-2&\text{x}-\gamma\end{vmatrix}=0,$ where $\alpha,\beta,\gamma$ are in A.P.

Answer

Since, $\alpha,\beta,\gamma$ are in A.P, $2\beta=\alpha+\gamma$
$\text{L.H.S}=\begin{vmatrix}\text{x}-3&\text{x}-4&\text{x}-\alpha\\\text{x}-2&\text{x}-3&\text{x}-\beta\\\text{x}-1&\text{x}-2&\text{x}-\gamma\end{vmatrix}$
$\text{R}_2\rightarrow\text{R}_2-\frac{\text{R}_1}{2}-\frac{\text{R}_3}{2}$
$=\begin{vmatrix}\text{x}-3&\text{x}-4&\text{x}-\alpha\$\text{x}-2)-\frac{\text{x}-3}{2}-\frac{\text{x}-1}{2}&(\text{x}-3)-\frac{\text{x}-4}{2}-\frac{\text{x}-2}{2}&(\text{x}-\beta)-\frac{\text{x}-\alpha}{2}-\frac{\text{x}-\gamma}{2}\\\text{x}-1&\text{x}-2&\text{x}-\gamma\end{vmatrix}$
$=\begin{vmatrix}\text{x}-3&\text{x}-4&\text{x}-\alpha\\0&0&0\\\text{x}-1&\text{x}-2&\text{x}-\gamma\end{vmatrix}$ $[\because2\beta=\alpha+\gamma]$
$=0$
$=\text{R.H.S}$

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