Watch the recursive beauty of Laplace expansion unfold
For Students:
Struggling to understand how determinants really work? This interactive visualizer transforms the abstract cofactor expansion method into a clear, visual experience. Instead of memorizing formulas, you'll see the mathematical logic unfold.
Watch as each matrix element gets circled, its row and column crossed out, and a smaller submatrix emerges. The recursive beauty of determinants becomes obvious as large problems break down into smaller, manageable pieces. No more confusion about signs—the checkerboard pattern is right there. No more mystery about minors—you'll see exactly which elements remain.
The calculator automatically finds the smartest expansion path (choosing rows/columns with the most zeros), teaching you strategic thinking alongside computation. Pause at any step to study the process at your own pace.
For Teachers:
Finally, a resource that makes cofactor expansion intuitive! Traditional textbook examples leave students confused about which elements go where. This visualizer eliminates that confusion with color-coded levels, clear visual cues, and step-by-step substitution that shows how minor values plug back into the original formula.
Use it for:
The recursive structure makes the mathematical elegance of Laplace expansion visible. Students don't just calculate—they understand the "why" behind every step.
Whether you're learning determinants for the first time or teaching them for the hundredth, this visualizer makes the abstract concrete, the confusing clear, and the tedious beautiful.
Try it with a 3×3 matrix and watch the magic happen!