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MDETERM function in Google Sheets

Returns the matrix determinant of a square matrix specified as an array or range.

=MDETERM(square_matrix)

MDETERM syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • square_matrixarrayRequired

    An array or range with an equal number of rows and columns representing a matrix whose determinant will be calculated.

MDETERM examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. The determinant of a 3×3 matrix — 0 means it can't be inverted:

    =MDETERM(B2:D4)

    Result-12

  2. Check a system of equations before calling MINVERSE:

    =IF(MDETERM(B2:D4) = 0, "No unique solution", "Solvable")

    Result"Solvable"

MDETERM in Excel

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try MDETERM in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the MDETERM formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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MDETERM errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #VALUE!

    The range isn't square, or a cell is empty or text.

Related functions

More ways Google Sheets gets this done.