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Jacobi's formula

Jacobi's formula is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Jacobi's formula rather than just read about it. In short: In matrix calculus, Jacobi's formula expresses the derivative of the determinant of a matrix A in terms of the adjugate of A and the derivative of A. If A is a differentiable map from the real numbers to n × n matrices, then d d t det A ( t ) = tr ⁡ ( adj ⁡ ( A ( t ) ) d A ( t ) d t ) = ( det A ( t ) ) ⋅ tr ⁡ ( A ( t ) − 1 ⋅ d A ( t ) d t ) {\displaystyle {\frac {d}{dt}}\det A(t)=\operatorname {tr} \left(\operatorna…

Key takeaways

  • Jacobi's formula belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Jacobi's formula to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Jacobi's formula from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In matrix calculus, Jacobi's formula expresses the derivative of the determinant of a matrix A in terms of the adjugate of A and the derivative of A. If A is a differentiable map from the real numbers to n × n matrices, then

d d t det A ( t ) = tr ⁡ ( adj ⁡ ( A ( t ) ) d A ( t ) d t ) = ( det A ( t ) ) ⋅ tr ⁡ ( A ( t ) − 1 ⋅ d A ( t ) d t ) {\displaystyle {\frac {d}{dt}}\det A(t)=\operatorname {tr} \left(\operatorname {adj} (A(t))\,{\frac {dA(t)}{dt}}\right)=\left(\det A(t)\right)\cdot \operatorname {tr} \left(A(t)^{-1}\cdot \,{\frac {dA(t)}{dt}}\right)}

where tr(X) is the trace of the matrix X and adj ⁡ ( X ) {\displaystyle \operatorname {adj} (X)} is its adjugate matrix. (The latter equality only holds if A(t) is invertible.) As a special case,

∂ det ( A ) ∂ A i j = adj ⁡ ( A ) j i = adj ⁡ ( A ) i j T ⟹ ∂ det ( A ) ∂ A = det ⁡ ( A ) A − T if A invertible. {\displaystyle {\partial \det(A) \over \partial A_{ij}}=\operatorname {adj} (A)_{ji}=\operatorname {adj} (A)_{ij}^{T}\Longrightarrow {\partial \det(A) \over \partial A}=\operatorname {det} (A)A^{-T}{\text{ if A invertible.}}}

Equivalently, if dA stands for the differential of A, the general formula is

d det ( A ) = tr ⁡ ( adj ⁡ ( A ) d A ) = det ( A ) tr ⁡ ( A − 1 d A ) {\displaystyle d\det(A)=\operatorname {tr} (\operatorname {adj} (A)\,dA)=\det(A)\operatorname {tr} \left(A^{-1}dA\right)}

The formula is named after the mathematician Carl Jacobi.

Derivation

Via matrix computation Theorem. (Jacobi's formula) For any differentiable map A from the real numbers to n × n matrices,

d det ( A ) = tr ⁡ ( adj ⁡ ( A ) d A ) . {\displaystyle d\det(A)=\operatorname {tr} (\operatorname {adj} (A)\,dA).}

Proof. Laplace's formula for the determinant of a matrix A can be stated as

det ( A ) = ∑ j A i j adj T ⁡ ( A ) i j . {\displaystyle \det(A)=\sum _{j}A_{ij}\operatorname {adj} ^{\rm {T}}(A)_{ij}.}

Notice that the summation is performed over some arbitrary row i of the matrix. The determinant of A can be considered to be a function of the elements of A:

det ( A ) = F ( A 11 , A 12 , … , A 21 , A 22 , … , A n n ) {\displaystyle \det(A)=F\,(A_{11},A_{12},\ldots ,A_{21},A_{22},\ldots ,A_{nn})}

so that, by the chain rule, its differential is

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Jacobi's formula

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Jacobi's formula claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Jacobi's formula before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Jacobi's formula ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Jacobi's formula

In research
Jacobi's formula appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Jacobi's formula in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Jacobi's formula is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Determinants, Matrix theory, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Jacobi's formula outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Jacobi's formula in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Jacobi's formula means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Jacobi's formula out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jacobi's formula in simple terms?

In matrix calculus, Jacobi's formula expresses the derivative of the determinant of a matrix A in terms of the adjugate of A and the derivative of A. If A is a differentiable map from the real numbers to n × n matrices, then d d t det A ( t ) = tr ⁡ ( adj ⁡ ( A ( t ) ) d A ( t ) d t ) = ( det A ( t…

Why does Jacobi's formula matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Jacobi's formula?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Jacobi's formula.

Tags

  • Determinants
  • Matrix theory

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