Recurrence Relations and Determinants

Abstract

We examine relationships between two minors of order n of some matrices of n rows and n+r columns. This is done through a class of determinants, here called $n$-determinants, the investigation of which is our objective. We prove that 1-determinants are the upper Hessenberg determinants. In particular, we state several 1-determinants each of which equals a Fibonacci number. We also derive relationships among terms of sequences defined by the same recurrence equation independently of the initial conditions. A result generalizing the formula for the product of two determinants is obtained. Finally, we prove that the Schur functions may be expressed as $n$-determinants.