Question

Can a determinant be calculated for a $5\times 4$ matrix?

Answer 1

Given,

Matrix of order $5\times 4$,

Number of rows$=5$

Number of columns$=4$

The determinant only exists for the square matrix.

A square matrix is a matrix in which the number of rows is equal to the number of columns such as $2\times 2$ matrix, $3\times 3$ matrix, $4\times 4$ matrix and so on.

$\because$Number of rows$\ne$Number of Columns

$5\times 4$ is not a square matrix.

Therefore, the determinant cannot be calculated for a $5\times 4$ matrix.