Finding determinant of a 3x3 matrix Assuming y is a nonzero real number, I need to find the determinant of this matrix:
$$ \left[
    \begin{array}{cc}
1 & y & y^2 \\
y & y^2 & y^3 \\
 y^2 & y^3 & y^4
    \end{array}
\right] $$
Can anyone help me get started? I know the answer is 0 from using Mathematica. Thanks
Edit
If I pulled out y from a row and had
$$y*D \left[
    \begin{array}{cc}
1 & y & y^2 \\
1 & y & y^2 \\
 y^2 & y^3 & y^4
    \end{array}
\right] $$
and $$ \left[
    \begin{array}{cc}
1 & y & y^2 \\
1 & y & y^2 \\
 y^2 & y^3 & y^4
    \end{array}
\right]  = 0$$
therefore,
$$ \left[
    \begin{array}{cc}
1 & y & y^2 \\
y & y^2 & y^3 \\
 y^2 & y^3 & y^4
    \end{array}
\right] = 0$$
is this correct?

Hint: Pick two rows (or two columns). Are they linearly independent?
