Lab for Determinants and Conic Section Curves

Exercise 1.  Use the determinant method to find the line through the points (1,4) and {5,3).

Solution 1.  The matrix  A  for the system of equations is:

Enter the points (1,4) and (5,3) and put them into rows 2 and 3 of the matrix A:

Form the equation for the line by setting the determinant of  A  equal to zero.

Then graph the line.

(c) John H. Mathews