Linear Algebra – Understanding a^3 + b^3 + c^3 – 3abc Using Determinants

algebra-precalculusdeterminantlinear algebra

The identity comes from expanding the determinant
$$\begin{vmatrix}
a & b & c \\
c & a & b \\
b & c & a \\
\end{vmatrix}$$
in two ways.

The LHS comes from expanding the determinant by Sarrus' rule. The RHS comes from adding up all columns to the first, factoring (a+b+c), and then expanding the remaining determinant.

The derivation of the RHS is what I don't understand. I'm guessing that there is some elementary determinant operation at work that I'm unfamiliar with.

Best Answer

In more detail, the thing that's being suggested to get the RHS is the following reasoning: \begin{align} \begin{vmatrix}a & b & c \\ c & a & b \\ b & c & a\end{vmatrix} &= \begin{vmatrix}a+c & a+b & b+c \\ c & a & b \\ b & c & a\end{vmatrix} & \text{(Add row 2 to row 1)} \\ &= \begin{vmatrix}a+b+c & a+b+c & a+b+c \\ c& a & b \\ b & c & a\end{vmatrix} & \text{(Add row 3 to row 1)} \\ &= (a+b+c) \begin{vmatrix}1 & 1 & 1\\c & a & b\\ b & c & a\end{vmatrix} & \text{(Factor out $a+b+c$)} \\ &= (a+b+c) \left(\begin{vmatrix}a & b \\ c & a\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix}c & b \\ b & a\end{vmatrix} + \begin{vmatrix}c & a \\ b & c\end{vmatrix}\right) & \text{(Expand on $1^{\text{st}}$ row)} \\ &= (a+b+c)(a^2-bc - (ca-b^2) + c^2-ab) \\ &= (a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2 - ab - bc - ca). \end{align}