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Linear AlgebraChallengeDeterminants & Inverses

Determinants & Inverses · Challenge problem

The determinant det⁡(111abca3b3c3)\det\begin{pmatrix}1 & 1 & 1\\a & b & c\\a^3 & b^3 & c^3\end{pmatrix} factors as (b−a)(c−a)(c−b) q(a,b,c)(b - a)(c - a)(c - b)\,q(a,b,c) for a polynomial qq. Find q(1,2,3)q(1, 2, 3).