- #1
Adgorn
- 130
- 18
Homework Statement
Show that ##g=g(x_1,x_2,...,x_n)=(-1)^{n}V_{n-1}(x)## where ##g(x_i)=\prod_{i<j} (x_i-x_j)##, ##x=x_n## and ##V_{n-1}## is the Vandermonde determinant defined by
##V_{n-1}(x)=\begin{vmatrix}
1 & 1 & ... & 1 & 1 \\
x_1 & x_2 & ... & x_{n-1} & x_n \\
{x_1}^2 & {x_2}^2 & ... & {x_{n-1}}^2 & {x_n}^2 \\
... & ... & ... & ... & ... \\
{x_1}^{n-1} & {x_2}^{n-1} & ... & {x_{n-1}}^{n-1} & {x_n}^{n-1}
\end{vmatrix}##
Homework Equations
N\A
The Attempt at a Solution
After expressing the determinant using the sigma notation I attempted to take a common factor to express it in a similar fashion but to no success. Other than that I really don't know how to approach this (I know I shouldn't say this but it is the case) as I never encountered a proof of this kind, and so I would appreciate some help.