# Rigid body basics - Question about DETERMINANT

**URL:** <https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/t/rigid-body-basics-question-about-determinant/21557>\
**Category:** Basic Arm Kinematics\
**Created:** [January 11, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/t/rigid-body-basics-question-about-determinant/21557 "2023-01-11T11:49:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mxenya](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mxenya](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/u/mxenya)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/t/rigid-body-basics-question-about-determinant/21557/1 "2023-01-11T11:49:50Z")

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![error_image_2354ca8f-af41-487c-a970-b6aea3d7391d_1673366983839](https://get-help.robotigniteacademy.com/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e7e864ba7f57161d8a6152658347a99e1c184bc6.jpeg)

Given that DETERMINANT represents the degree of DEFORMATION of SPACE, is this statement “One last property of the Rigid Body Rotation Matrix is that the DETERMINANT has to be 0 ALWAYS.” right?

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**Author:** ![Fearless](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Fearless](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/u/Fearless)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 11:53am UTC](https://get-help.theconstruct.ai/t/rigid-body-basics-question-about-determinant/21557/2 "2023-01-11T11:53:04Z")

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If determinant is zero means

1. Matrix is a singular matrix
2. It cannot be invertible, but rotation matrix can be inverted

Rotations preserve volume so determinant has to be 1.