Dodgson condensation Dodgson condensation In mathematics, Dodgson condensation is a method of computing the determinants of square matrices. It is named for its inventor, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll). The method in the case of an "n" × "n" matrix is to construct an ("n" − 1) × ("n" − 1) matrix, an ("n" − 2) × ("n" − 2), and so on, finishing with a 1 × 1 matrix, which has one entry, the determinant of the original matrix. This algorithm can be described in the following four steps: One wishes to find We make a matrix of
Edwin Dodgson Christian name is a tribute to Canon George Heron, a Cheshire friend of Archdeacon Dodgson. Edwin's mother died when he was four years old and he was raised by his maiden aunt Lucy Lutwidge. He was educated at Twyford and in 1860 he went to Rugby, where the Headmaster was Frederick Temple, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He worked briefly for the Board of Trade before entering Chichester Theological College in September 1871. The college was Anglo-Catholic, a tradition which Edwin held dear, to the chagrin of his elder brother Charles. He was ordained deacon in 1873, and