Let $A$ be your favorite finite dimensional algebra, and $P\_i$ be a sets of representatives for the indecomposible projectives (or [PIMs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_indecomposable_module), if you like). Then we have the Cartan matrix $C$ of the algebra, whose entries are $\dim Hom(P\_i, P\_j)$. You can think of this as the matrix of the Euler form on the Grothendieck group $K^0(A-pmod)$ of projective $A$-modules.


Now, if the algebra $A$ has finite global dimension, then we can define the classes of the simple heads of these $L\_i$ in $K^0(A-pmod)$ as integer linear combinations of the $P\_i$'s, and $[P\_i]$ and $[L\_i]$ are dual bases in the Euler form. That is, the matrix $C$ is integer valued and has integer-valued inverse, i.e. it has determinant 1.



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> To what degree is the converse of this true? Is there a weaker hypothesis than finite global dimension itself such that $det(C)=1$ and that hypothesis will imply finite global dimension?
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The application I have in mind for this is a little more complex. I'd like to consider a graded version of this question. So, let $A$ be a graded algebra such that each degree is finite dimensional (and let say the appearing gradings are bounded below). The the graded version of $C$ is well-defined in $\mathbb{Z}((q))$, and similarly, if every simple has a resolution by projectives where only finitely many projectives generated in a given degree appear, this implies that this matrix has an inverse in $\mathbb{Z}((q))$, that is determinant with leading coefficient 1.



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> The same question as above: can I use a hypothesis like the graded Cartan matrix having determinant with integral leading coefficient to conclude the existence of such a projective resolution?
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Does a finite dimensional algebra having a Cartan matrix with determinant 1 imply finite global dimension (possibly with more hypotheses)?
In general, no. See [Burgess, W. D.; Fuller, K. R.; Voss, E. R.; Zimmermann-Huisgen, B. The Cartan matrix as an indicator of finite global dimension for Artinian rings. Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 95 (1985), no. 2, 157--165. [MR0801315](http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=MR0801315)]


It does work for artin algebras of Loewy length at most two, though, and various other families, like quasi-stratified algebras or left serial (that's the main result of the paper mentioned above)


