CRAMERS

RULE

Cramers Rule is an explicit

formula for the solution of linear
equations with as many equations
as unknowns, valid whenever the
system has a unique solution.

It is named after Gabriel Cramer

(1704-1752) who published the rule
for arbitrary number of unknowns in
1750.

Gabriel
Cramer

CRAMERS RULE FOR

TWO EQUATIONS
CONTAINING TWO
VARIABLES

Consider the system

Using the method of elimination to solve
for x and provided that and ,

To eliminate y, we subtract equation

(4) from equation (3), and we get
equation (5)

Equation (5) can be expressed in

determinant notation as
x=
If D = = , then in solving for x we
have,
Dx = x =

Using similar steps to solve for y, an

provided that and , the system

becomes

To eliminate x, we subtract equation (7)

from equation (6), and we get equation (8)

Equation (5) can be expressed in

determinant notation as
y=

If D = = , then in solving for y we

have,
D y = y =

Cramers Rule for Two

Equations Containing
Two Variables

The solution to the system of

equations

Is given by x =

y=

In the solution for x, the numerator is

the determinant, denote by, to
formed by replacing the entries in the
first column (the coefficient of x) in D
by the constants on the right side of
the equal sign.
=

In the solution for y, the numerator is the

determinant, denote by, to formed by
replacing the entries in the first column (the
coefficient of y) in D by the constants on the
right side of the equal sign.

Cramers Rule can be restated as

x= y=

Example 1
Use Cramers Rule to solve the
system:

Solution
The determinant D is
= (5) (3) (2) (-1) = 15 + 2 = 17

Because D, Cramers Rule can be used.

x= == = =3
y= == = =2

The solution of the system is x=3

and y=2.
If D=0, then the system is either
inconsistent or has infinitely many
solutions.

Example 2
Use Cramers Rule to solve the

system:

Solution
Begin by finding the determinant of the coefficient
of the matrix.
=4(2) 1(3) = 8 3= 5

Because D, Cramers Rule can be used.

x= = = = =
y= = = = =

Therefore, the solution is .

If D=0, then the system is either
inconsistent or has infinitely many
solutions.

Cramers Rule for Three

Equation containing
Three Variables

Consider the following system of

three equations containing three
variable:

If the determinant D of the

coefficients of the variable is not 0,
then the unique solution of the
system
is given by

Where
=

Example 3
Use the Cramers Rule to solve
the following systems of linear

equations.

Solution
Begin by finding the determinant
of the coefficient matrix.

2 + ( 2)

=
=
=

2(12 + 4)
2(8) 6(8) 2(4)
16 48 +8
56

Because the determinant is not zero, we can use

the Cramers Rule.
=

=
=1

=
=1

=
=
Therefore, the solution is . Check
this solution in the original system of
equations.

Example 4
Solve the given system using
Cramers Rule.

Solution:

Therefore,

The solution is the ordered triple

(1,3,-2).

Try this out!

Solve the following using the Cramers
Rule.
1. 5x-y=13
2x+3y=12
2. 2x-3y+5z=27
x+2y-z=-4
5x-y+4z=27

Prepared by:
Royet Cayabyab
James Alarin
Raymund Baldon
Kimberly Rebamontan
Marie Antonette Rosario
Romarie Tamayo