Evaluate: .

Let

Using the property that if some or all elements of a row or column of a determinant are expressed as the sum of two (or more) terms, then the determinant can be expressed as the sum of two (or more) determinants.

We get,

Using the property that If any two rows (or columns) of a determinant are identical (all corresponding elements are same), then the value of the determinant is zero.

Hence,

=0×6-2×4=-8 (Expanding along R₁)