in A, a square matrix of order (n-1) is formed by eliminating the row and column containing the element a_rs. Label this matrix A_rs, with the subscripts designating the row and column eliminated from A. Then |A_rs |, the determinant of A_rs, is called theminorof the elementars. The product θ_rs=(-1) r+s |Ars| is called the cofactor of a_rs. Each element in a square matrix has its own minor and cofactor.