Talk:determinant

It's fine that computer geeks post the mathematical definition here, but that is not the primary meaning of the word determinant. A determinant is a determining factor, an element that determines the nature of something. The mathematical meaning is derived from that: a determinant determines the nature of a square matrix.

Since English is not my language, I shall leave it up to English speakers whether to add the primary definition. Red Prince 17:08, 1 Aug 2004 (UTC)


 * Both senses are widely used and understood. Both should be (and are) given.  The original sense should (and does) come first.  Which one is now "primary" is a matter of opinion. -dmh 04:36, 3 May 2005 (UTC)

I believe the new mathematical definition is correct, but would any math geeks please double-check? The previous version was more a glacially slow algorithm for computing the determinant than a definition. On the other hand, the present definition is probably equally intimidating to the layperson. -dmh 04:48, 3 May 2005 (UTC)