Question
Without expanding, show that the values of the following determinant are zero:
$\begin{vmatrix}0&\text{x}&\text{y}\\-\text{x}&0&\text{z}\\-\text{y}&-\text{z}&0\end{vmatrix}$

Answer

$\triangle=\begin{vmatrix}0&\text{x}&\text{y}\\-\text{x}&0&\text{z}\\-\text{y}&-\text{z}&0\end{vmatrix}$
$=\frac{\text{xyz}}{\text{xyz}}\begin{vmatrix}0&\text{x}&\text{y}\\-\text{x}&0&\text{z}\\-\text{y}&-\text{z}&0\end{vmatrix}$
$=\frac{1}{\text{xyz}}\begin{vmatrix}0&\text{xz}&\text{yz}\\-\text{xy}&0&\text{zy}\\-\text{yx}&-\text{zx}&0\end{vmatrix}$
$=\frac{1}{\text{xyz}}\begin{vmatrix}-2\text{xy}&0&2\text{yz}\\-\text{xy}&0&\text{zy}\\-\text{yx}&-\text{zx}&0\end{vmatrix}$ [Applying$ R_1 \rightarrow R_1 + R_2 + R_3]$
$=\frac{1}{\text{xyz}}\begin{vmatrix}0&0&0\\-\text{xy}&0&\text{zy}\\-\text{yx}&-\text{zx}&0\end{vmatrix}=0$ [Applying $R_1 \rightarrow R_1 - 2R_2]$

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