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Theorem

1) The theorem states that if the number of equations equals the number of variables, the system could have no solution, one solution, or infinitely many solutions. 2) If there are more equations than variables, the system could have no solution or infinitely many solutions. 3) If there are fewer equations than variables, the system could have no solution or infinitely many solutions. Examples are provided to illustrate each case.

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Alicia Bong
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29 views

Theorem

1) The theorem states that if the number of equations equals the number of variables, the system could have no solution, one solution, or infinitely many solutions. 2) If there are more equations than variables, the system could have no solution or infinitely many solutions. 3) If there are fewer equations than variables, the system could have no solution or infinitely many solutions. Examples are provided to illustrate each case.

Uploaded by

Alicia Bong
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THEOREM

If the number of equations is greater than or equal to the number of variables


in a linear system, then one of the following is true:
1) The system has no solution.
2) The system has exactly one solution
3) The system has infinitely many solutions.
Example 1: Equal number of equations and variables but system has no
solution

'

+ +

+ +
1 5 5
4 3
1
z y x
z y x
z y x

1
1
1
]
1


1
4
1
5 5 1
1 1 3
1 1 1
----PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS---->
1
1
1
]
1


1
1
1
0 0 0
4 4 0
1 1 1
Observe in the third row of the final augmented matrix: 0 = -1!
Therefore, we conclude that the system is inconsistent and has no solution.
Example 2: Equal number of equations and variables and has many solutions

'

+

+
3 5 3 2
1 2 3
2 3 2
z y x
z y x
z y x

1
1
1
]
1

3
1
2
5 3 2
2 1 3
3 2 1
---PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS--->
1
1
1
]
1

0
1
0
0 0 0
1 1 0
1 0 1
From the last augmented matrix, we will get a new system of x z = 0 and y
z = -1. We can assign any real number to either x or z. Thus, there will be
many sets of x, y and z values.
Therefore, we conclude that the system has infinitely many solutions.
Example 3: More equations than variables but system has no solution

'

+

+
12 3 4
0 2
4 2
y x
y x
y x

1
1
1
]
1

12
0
4
3 4
2 1
2 1
----PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS---->
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
2
0 0
1 0
0 1
Observe in the third row of the final augmented matrix: 0 = -1!
Therefore, we conclude that the system has no solution.
THEOREM
If there are fewer equations than variables in a linear system, then the system
either has no solution or it has infinitely many solutions.
Example 4: Fewer equations than variables and has many solutions

'

+ +

+ +
3 5 3 2
1 4 2 3
2 3 2
w z y x
w z y x
w z y x

1
1
1
]
1

3
1
2
1 5 3 2
4 2 1 3
1 3 2 1
--PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS-->
1
1
1
]
1


0
1
0
0 0 0 0
1 1 1 0
1 1 0 1
From the last augmented matrix, we will get a new system:

'

+

1
0
w z y
w z x
We can assign any real number to either x or z. Thus, there will be many sets
of w, x, y and z values. Therefore, we conclude that the system has infinitely
many solutions.

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