Determinant Calculator with Steps

Each step shows one term from the first-row expansion: the element value, its 2x2 minor determinant, the sign (+/-), and the contribution to the total. The final row sums all three contributions to give the determinant.

This page shows steps for 3x3 only. The 2x2 formula (ad - bc) needs no step breakdown. For 4x4, use the general determinant calculator, though step details are less practical due to the number of terms.

The cofactor sign for position (i,j) is (-1) raised to (i+j). For the first row (i=1): positions j=1,2,3 give signs (+1), (-1), (+1). This checkerboard pattern ensures the expansion produces the correct determinant.

Yes, in theory. Expanding along any row or column gives the same determinant. This calculator uses the first row, which is the most common choice for teaching and manual computation.

You can. Look for the "Embed" button near the top of this calculator. It lets you pick a size, border style, and color palette, then gives you an iframe tag to paste into any webpage. The widget is responsive, loads fast, and costs nothing. More details at calculory.com/services/embed-calculators.