Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Determinants

Question:

If A is a skew-symmetric matrix of order 5, then |adj A| is equal to

Options:

-1

0

5

-5

Correct Answer:

0

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) → 0

For a skew–symmetric matrix $A$ of odd order:

$|A| = 0$ (a fundamental property of skew–symmetric matrices).

Here, order = $5$ (odd), so:

$|A| = 0$

If $|A| = 0$, then $A$ is singular. For any singular matrix of order ≥ 2, the adjoint matrix $\text{adj}\,A$ has:

$|\text{adj}\,A| = 0$

because $\text{adj}\,A$ has rank ≤ 1 for a singular matrix.

Therefore, $|\text{adj}\,A| = 0$.