PROBLEMS IN LINEAR EQUATIONS

PROF. SEBASTIAN VATTAMATTAM

1. Homogeneous System of Linear Equations Problem 1.1. The vector (c1 , c2 , c3 ) is a solution of a11 x1 + a12 x2 + a13 x3 = 0 a21 x1 + a22 x2 + a23 x3 = 0 a31 x1 + a32 x2 + a33 x3 = 0 Show that, for k = 0, (kc1 , kc2 , kc3 ) is also a solution. Since (c1 , c2 , c3 ) is a solution of the system of equations, a11 c1 + a12 c2 + a13 c3 = 0 a21 c1 + a22 c2 + a23 c3 = 0 a31 c1 + a32 c2 + a33 c3 = 0 Multiplying each equation by k, a11 kc1 + a12 kc2 + a13 kc3 = k(a11 c1 + a12 c2 + a13 c3 ) = 0 a21 kc1 + a22 kc2 + a23 kc3 = k(a21 c1 + a22 c2 + a23 c3 ) = 0 a31 kc1 + a32 kc2 + a33 kc3 = k(a31 c1 + a32 c2 + a33 c3 ) = 0 Hence the conclusion. Problem 1.2. Given the system of equations, (1) x + 3y + 2z = 1 (2) 2x + 2y z = 1 (3) x + 4y + 3z = 5 (1) Write down the coecient matrix. (2) Write down the augmented matrix. (3) Transform the augmented matrix to the triangular form. (4) Solve the system of equations.
1

PROF. SEBASTIAN VATTAMATTAM

(1) The coecient matrix is 1 3 2 A = 2 2 1 1 4 3 (2) The augmented matrix 1 2 [A : b] = 1 is 3 2 1 2 1 1 4 3 5

(3) Applying elementary raw transformations, 1 3 2 1 1 3 2 1 [A : b] = 2 2 1 1 0 4 5 3 1 4 3 5 0 1 1 4 1 3 2 1 0 1 1 4 0 4 5 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 1 13 1 0 1 11 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 13 1 0 1 11 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 13 1 0 0 24 0 1 0 17 0 0 1 13 (4) Hence we have, x1 = 24, x2 = 17, x3 = 13

LINEAR EQUATIONS

2. Non-homogeneous System of Linear Equations Gauss-Jordan Method Theorem 2.1. If Ax = b is a system of linear equations and [A : b] is the augmented matrix, then the system is consistent i rankA = rank[A : b] If rankA = rank[A : b] =: r and n denotes the number of unknowns, then Case 1: n = r. The system has a unique solution. Case 2: n > r. The system has innite number of solutions. n r of the unknowns can be given arbitrary values. Problem 2.2. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (4) x1 + x2 + x4 = 3 (5) x2 + x3 = 4 (6) x1 + 2x2 + x3 + x4 = 8 Solution Denote the equations by E1 , E2 , E3 Apply E3 E3 E1 (7) x1 + x2 + x4 (8) x2 + x3 (9) x2 + x3 Here 1.8 and 1.9 contradict each tem is not consistent. = 3 = 4 = 5 other, and hence the sys-

Gauss-Jordan method in the Matrix form

PROF. SEBASTIAN VATTAMATTAM

The system is of the form Ax = b where 1 1 0 1 A=0 1 1 0 1 2 1 1 Augmented matrix 1 1 0 1 . 3 [A, b] = 0 1 1 0 . 4 1 2 1 1 . 8 Apply the elementary transformation R3 R3 R1 1 1 0 1 . 3 [A : b] = 0 1 1 0 . 4 0 1 1 0 . 5 Apply the elementary transformation R3 R3 R2 1 1 0 1 . 3 [A : b] = 0 1 1 0 . 4 0 0 0 0 . 1 Now [A : b] is in the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 3, rankA = 2 rank[A : b] = rankA Therefore the system is not consistent. Problem 2.3. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (10) (11) x1 + x2 + x3 = 4 x1 + 2x2 = 6

Solution The system is of the form Ax = b Augmented matrix 1 1 1 . 4 [A : b] = 1 2 0 . 6

LINEAR EQUATIONS

Apply the elementary transformation R2 R2 R1 1 1 1 . 4 [A : b] = 0 1 1 . 2 Now [A : b] is in the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 2 = rankA Therefore the system is consistent. The equations in the reduced form are (12) (13) n = 3, n r = 1 Let x3 = a Then x2 = a + 2, x1 = 2a + a The general solution is 2 2 2a + 2 a + 2 = 2 + a 1 1 0 a Problem 2.4. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (14) (15) (16) x1 + x2 = 1 2x1 + x2 = 3 3x1 + 2x2 = 4 x1 + x2 + x3 = 4 x2 x3 = 2

Solution The system is of the form Ax = b Augmented matrix 1 1 . 1 [A : b] = 2 1 . 3 3 2 . 4 Apply the elementary transformations R2 R2 2R1 , R3 R3 3R1

PROF. SEBASTIAN VATTAMATTAM

1 1 . 1 [A : b] = 0 1 . 1 0 1 . 1 Apply the elementary transformation R3 R3 R2 1 1 . 1 [A : b] = 0 1 . 1 0 0 . 0 Now [A : b] is reduced to the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 2 = rankA Therefore the system is consistent. n=2=r There is a unique solution. The equations in the reduced form are (17) (18) The solution is 2 1 Problem 2.5. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (19) (20) 2x1 x2 + x3 + x4 = 6 x1 + x2 + x3 = 4 x1 + x2 = 1 x2 = 1

Solution The system is of the form Ax = b Augmented matrix [A : b] = 2 1 1 1 . 6 1 1 1 0 . 4 R1 R2

Apply the elementary transformations

LINEAR EQUATIONS

[A : b] =

1 1 1 0 . 4 2 1 1 1 . 6

Apply the elementary transformation R2 R2 2R1 [A : b] = 1 1 1 0 . 4 0 3 1 1 . 2

Now [A : b] is reduced to the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 2 = rankA Therefore the system is consistent. n = 4, r = 2 There are innite number of solutions. n r = 2 of the unknowns can be given arbitrary values. The equations in the reduced form are (21) (22) Let x3 = a, x4 = b The solution is
2ab+10 3 a+b+2 3

3x2 x3 + x4 = 2 x1 + x2 + x3 = 4

a b

2/3 1/3 10/3 1/3 + b 1/3 + 2/3 = a 1 0 0 0 1 0

PROF. SEBASTIAN VATTAMATTAM

Problem 2.6. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (23) (24) (25) (26) x1 + x4 x2 + 2x4 x3 + 0.5x4 2x3 + x4 = = = = 5 5 1 3

Solution The system is of the form Ax = b Augmented matrix 1 0 0 1 . 5 0 1 0 2 . 5 [A : b] = 0 0 1 0.5 . 1 0 0 2 1 . 3 Apply the elementary transformation R4 R4 2R3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 [A : b] = 0 0 1 0.5 0 0 0 0 Now [A : b] is in the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 4, rankA = 3 rank[A : b] = rankA Therefore the system is not consistent. Problem 2.7. Use Gauss-Jordan method to examine the consistency of the following system of linear equations. (27) (28) (29) 2x2 + 2x3 = 4 x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 4 x2 x3 = 0

. . . .

5 5 1 1

LINEAR EQUATIONS

Solution The system is of the form Ax = b Augmented matrix 0 2 2 . 4 [A : b] = 1 2 1 . 4 0 1 1 . 0 Apply the elementary transformation R R2 1 1 2 1 . 4 [A : b] = 0 2 2 . 4 0 1 1 . 0 Apply the elementary transformation R2 (1/2)R2 1 2 1 . 4 [A : b] = 0 1 1 . 2 0 1 1 . 0 Apply the elementary transformation R3 R3 R2 1 2 1 . 4 [A : b] = 0 1 1 . 2 0 0 2 . 2 Now [A : b] is in the triangular form. rank[A : b] = 3, rankA = 3 The solution is x1 = x2 = x3 = 1 For any clarication please contact the author.
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