Please consider the 2×2 matrix below:
$\left[\begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{array}\right]$
According to the definition given here and here, the cofactor matrix becomes:
$\left[\begin{array}{ccc} a_{22} & -a_{12} \\ -a_{21} & a_{11} \end{array}\right] = \left[\begin{array}{ccc} 4 & -2 \\ -3 & 1\end{array}\right]$
However, when I follow the practice given here and here, I do obtain the following cofactor matrix, which is the transpose of the above:
$\left[\begin{array}{ccc} a_{22} & -a_{21} \\ -a_{12} & a_{11} \end{array}\right] = \left[\begin{array}{ccc} 4 & -3 \\ -2 & 1\end{array}\right]$
The difference arises from the off-diagonal locations of $a_{12}$ and $a_{21}$.
Are these two cofactors equivalent to each other in some way?
Best Answer
The first "here" link is wrong. The second one, contrary to your thinking, gives the correct interpretation.
The rule is simple: to obtain the minor/cofactor of any element, strike out the whole row and column that contain it. Hence it cannot contain the element self.