JEE Advanced 2021 · Paper 1, Mathematics question 7
Passage
Question Stem for Question Nos. 7 and 8
Let α, β and γ be real numbers such that the system of linear equations x+2y+3z4x+5y+6z7x+8y+9z=α=β=γ−1 is consistent. Let ∣M∣ represent the determinant of the matrix M=αβ−1210γ01 Let P be the plane containing all those (α,β,γ) for which the above system of linear equations is consistent, and D be the square of the distance of the point (0,1,0) from the plane P.
The value of ∣M∣ is ____.
Answer and worked solution
Official answer: 0.95
Consistency. The coefficient rows satisfy R1−2R2+R3=0, so the matrix is singular. The system is consistent exactly when the right-hand sides satisfy the same relation: α−2β+(γ−1)=0⟹α−2β+γ=1.
The determinant. Expanding along the first row: ∣M∣=α(1)−2(β)+γ(1)=α−2β+γ=1.