Let Then the number of invertible matrices in is
Expanding the determinant along the third row,
So the matrix is singular iff , with each of chosen from an -element set. We count the singular matrices.
Case 1: . The number of pairs with is . Similarly for . Total .
Case 2: . Then all lie in the -element nonzero set. Write . For each unordered factorization with in the nonzero set, the pair has ordering if and orderings if ; same for .
Sub-case 2a, : this contributes choices of common value, with being the same square, giving .
Sub-case 2b, and the pair is with : there are unordered pairs, and the ordered count is .
Total Case 2: . Singular matrices: .
Invertible matrices:
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