Determinant - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Determinant : adj : having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the determinative (or determinant) battle" [syn: crucial, deciding(a), determinative, determining(a)] (noun)
1: a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life" [syn: determiner, determinative, determining factor, causal factor]
2: a square matrix used to solve simultaneous equations

Based on WordNet 2.0

Determinant : \De*ter"mi*nant\, a. [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf. F. d['e]terminant.] Serving to determine or limit; determinative.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Determinant : \De*ter"mi*nant\, n. 1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.

2. (Math.) The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these products being formed according to certain specified laws;

Note: thus, the determinant of the nine numbers a, b, c,a', b', c',a'', b'', c'', is a b' c'' - a b'' c' _ a' b'' c] - a' b c'' _ a'' b' c. The determinant is written by placing the numbers from which it is formed in a square between two vertical lines. The theory of determinants forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.

3. (Logic) A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise. --Abp. Thomson.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)