Let $A$ a $n\times n$ matrix, with $\det A=0$. Let $D$ a $n\times n$ diagonal matrix. Can we infer that $\det(A+D)$ is always $\neq 0$? I think the answer is "yes", but I do not know how to prove it.
2026-04-23 15:54:08.1776959648
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Can we infer that $\det(A+D)$ is always $\neq 0$, with $D$ diagonal matrix and $\det A=0$?
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A non - trivial counterexample with $\det A = 0$ and $\det D \neq 0$:
Let $$A =\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}$$ and $$D = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 0 \\ 0 & -2\end{bmatrix}.$$
Then, $$A+D =\begin{bmatrix} -1 & 0 \\1 & 0 \end{bmatrix},$$ with $\det(A+D) = 0$.
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The answer is"No".
Look at a diagonal matrix $D = \text{diag} (d_1, d_2, \ldots, d_n)$ with $d_i \ne 0$, $1 \le i \le n$; then in fact $\det D \ne 0$. Form $A$ from $D$ by replacing at least one $d_i$ with $-d_i$ and at least one $d_j$, $j \ne i$, by $0$· Then $\det A = 0$ and $D + A$ is a diagonal matrix with (at least) $(D + A)_{ii} = 0$, whence $\det (D + A) = 0$.
Consider for trivial counterexample $A=-D$