Choosing a different block pivot

An invertible matrix need not have an invertible chosen diagonal block. For example,has singular matrices as both one-by-one diagonal blocks. Neither diagonal-block formula applies in that partition. Interchanging the two rows produces the identity matrix and a usable pivot element. This is why a failed block pivot is not proof that the full matrix is a singular matrix; Pivoted LU decomposition changes the order before eliminating.

Conversely, invertible diagonal blocks do not suffice: $M=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 1& 1\end{array}\right)$ has $A=D=1$ but Schur complement $S=0$, so it is a singular matrix. Both hypotheses in the block matrix inverse formula have work to do.