View source for Alternant matrix

A square [[matrix]] of the general form $\left({f_i(x_j)}\right)$ where the $x_j$ are variables and the $f_i({\cdot})$ are functions, $i,j$ ranging over $1,\ldots,n$.  An ''alternant'' is the [[determinant]] of such a matrix.  A common use of the term is when the  $f_i({\cdot})$ are powers, so that the general entry is ${x_j}^{\lambda_i}$ for exponents $\lambda_i$, and especially the case $\lambda_i = i-1$ for $i = 1,\ldots,n$, when the alternant is a [[Vandermonde determinant]].

==References==
* Thomas Muir.  ''A treatise on the theory of determinants''. Dover Publications (1960) [1933]