haskell - Couldn't match expected type -

area (x0:x1:xs) = determinant x0 x1 + area(x1:xs) + determinant x0 xs 

i keep getting error can't match expected type last part determinant x0 xs namely xs part

 determinant :: a-> -> ...  determinant x0 x1    determinant :: a-> [a] -> ...  determinant x0 **xs**  

what type determinant supposed have? in first call takes x0 x1 have both type a. in second call pass determinant x0 xs xs list of ([a]).