Question:medium

An \(n \times n\) square matrix \(A\) satisfies \(A^{T} = A^{-1}\). The determinant of this matrix may take which of the following value(s)?

Show Hint

Take the determinant of both sides of \(A^{T}=A^{-1}\) and use \(\det(A^{T})=\det(A)\), \(\det(A^{-1})=1/\det(A)\).
Updated On: Jul 16, 2026
  • \(+1\)
  • \(-1\)
  • \(n\)
  • \(0\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A, B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Restate What Orthogonal Means.
A matrix with $A^{T} = A^{-1}$ preserves the length of every vector it acts on: for any vector $x$, $\|Ax\|^2 = (Ax)^{T}(Ax) = x^{T}A^{T}Ax = x^{T}A^{-1}Ax$. Since $A^T=A^{-1}$, this simplifies to $x^Tx = \|x\|^2$. So $A$ is a length-preserving (orthogonal) transformation, such as a rotation or reflection.

Step 2: Use the Product-of-Eigenvalues Rule.
The determinant of any square matrix equals the product of its eigenvalues, $\det(A) = \lambda_1 \lambda_2 \cdots \lambda_n$. For an orthogonal matrix, every eigenvalue (allowing complex ones) has magnitude 1, because the transformation does not stretch or shrink vectors. Complex eigenvalues of a real matrix always occur in conjugate pairs $\lambda, \bar\lambda$, and each such pair multiplies to $|\lambda|^2 = 1$.

Step 3: Combine the Eigenvalues.
So the full eigenvalue product is a chain of factors that are each $+1$ (real eigenvalues equal to $+1$), $-1$ (real eigenvalues equal to $-1$), or $1$ (conjugate pairs). Multiplying any combination of $+1$'s and $-1$'s together always gives either $+1$ or $-1$, never any other real number. Since $\det(A)$ is real (A is a real matrix), it must land on exactly one of these two values.

Step 4: Rule Out n and 0.
A determinant of $n$ would need the eigenvalue magnitudes to depend on the matrix size in a way that breaks the length-preserving property proved in Step 1, so it cannot happen. A determinant of $0$ would mean $A$ is not invertible, but the problem states $A^{-1}$ exists (it equals $A^T$), so $0$ is impossible.

Final Answer:
$\det(A)$ can only be $+1$ or $-1$. \[ \boxed{+1 \text{ and } -1 \text{ i.e. options (A) and (B)}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0