Contextualization

Mathematics is in everything, isn't it? From buying groceries to calculating the orbits of planets. This also includes determinants, the topic of our project. But you might be wondering: what are determinants?

The determinant is a mathematical function associated with a square matrix. In our case, we will work specifically with 3x3 matrices. The determinant of a 3x3 matrix is useful in various areas of mathematics and physics, such as solving systems of linear equations, defining perpendicular vectors, and determining the volume of parallelepipeds, for example.

Now, why are we talking about this? Mathematics, in its essence, always seeks to simplify problems. Thus, determinants are a fundamental tool for dealing with systems of equations, especially those with many variables. They allow us, through a single expression, to say something about the solution of the entire system.

Now, let's get practical. Imagine you are an engineer and need to calculate the volume of a dam. Or a designer who needs to calculate the area of an apartment. Or a physicist who needs to find the direction and intensity of a force. In these situations, and many others in real life, you will use determinants.

To deepen your studies and prepare for the challenge, we recommend the book