Algebraic/combinatorial proofs of Cayley-type identities for derivatives of determinants and pfaffians

The classic Cayley identity states that

det(∂)(detX)^s=s(s+1)?(s+n−1)(detX)^s−1$\det (\partial ){(\det X)}^s=s(s+1)?(s+n-1){(\det X)}^{s-1}$

where X=(_xij)$X=(x_{ij})$ is an n×n$n\times n$ matrix of indeterminates and ∂=(∂/∂_xij)$\partial =(\partial /\partial x_{ij})$ is the corresponding matrix of partial derivatives. In this paper we present straightforward algebraic/combinatorial proofs of a variety of Cayley-type identities, both old and new. The most powerful of these proofs employ Grassmann algebra (= exterior algebra) and Grassmann–Berezin integration. Among the new identities proven here are a pair of “diagonal-parametrized” Cayley identities, a pair of “Laplacian-parametrized” Cayley identities, and the “product-parametrized” and “border-parametrized” rectangular Cayley identities.