nLab Wronskian

Given a set of $n$ functions $f_1,\ldots,f_n$, one can define the matrix

$$W(f_1,\ldots,f_n) = \left( \array{f_1 & f_2 & \cdots & f_n\\ f_1' & f_2' &\cdots & f_n'\\ \cdot &\cdot &\cdot &\cdots\\ f_1^{(n-1)} & f_2^{(n-1)} &\cdots &f_n^{(n-1)}}\right)$$

The Wronskian is its determinant. It is used in the study of linear independence of solution of differential equations and in mathematical physics.

• wikipedia Wronskian