A stage with no coupling keeps a product state product. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

No coupling leaves the table factorable

With the coupling stage off, the determinant is 0. The table is still a product state.

det=0\det=0
Uncoupled product stateThe determinant is checked as zero.state1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneonestate1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneoneIuncoupled001/sqrt(2)P=1/2011/sqrt(2)P=1/2100P=0110P=0det = 0

Zero determinant rows keep the product claim honest

The scan ties the product label to the determinant, not to the lesson caption.

inputdetclaimbasis×plus0productafter I0productchecked0product\begin{array}{c|c|c}\text{input}&\det&\text{claim}\\\text{basis}\times\text{plus}&0&\text{product}\\\text{after I}&0&\text{product}\\\text{checked}&0&\text{product}\\\end{array}
Product determinant scanEach row keeps determinant zero.state1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneonestate1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneoneIuncoupled001/sqrt(2)P=1/2011/sqrt(2)P=1/2100P=0110P=0det = 0

The product label is checked

The renderer requires the product flag to match the determinant, so a caption cannot hide a non-product state.

product claim follows determinant\text{product claim follows determinant}
Product auditThe table and determinant agree.state1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneonestate1/sqrt(2) zerozero1/sqrt(2) zeroone0 onezero0 oneoneIuncoupled001/sqrt(2)P=1/2011/sqrt(2)P=1/2100P=0110P=0det = 0