Hypertext Webster Gateway: "determinant"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Determinant \De*ter"mi*nant\, a. [L. determinans, p. pr. of
determinare: cf. F. d['e]terminant.]
Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Determinant \De*ter"mi*nant\, n.
1. That which serves to determine; that which causes
determination.
2. (Math.) The sum of a series of products of several
numbers, these products being formed according to certain
specified laws;
Note: thus, the determinant of the nine numbers a, b, c,a',
b', c',a'', b'', c'', is a b' c'' - a b'' c' + a' b''
c] - a' b c'' + a'' b' c. The determinant is written by
placing the numbers from which it is formed in a square
between two vertical lines. The theory of determinants
forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.
3. (Logic) A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or
predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering
them more definite and precise. --Abp. Thomson.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
determinant
adj : having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial
experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the
determinative (or determinant) battle" [syn: {crucial},
{deciding(a)}, {determinative}, {determining(a)}]
n 1: a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an
important determinant of one's outlook on life" [syn: {determiner},
{determinative}, {determining factor}, {causal factor}]
2: a square matrix used to solve simultaneous equations
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