Scribd
Upload
3K views

Writing A Matrix Into Row Echelon Form

A detailed example showing the steps of writing a matrix into row echelon form. It's important to teach students in linear algebra how to put a matrix into REF (row echelon form), because it will help them with more difficult concepts later on such as the LU factorization technique. Those who go on to take numerical linear algebra will have hopefully developed an intuitive understanding of the programming issues that arise from writing code to solve a linear system.

Uploaded by

Matthew
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3K views

Writing A Matrix Into Row Echelon Form

A detailed example showing the steps of writing a matrix into row echelon form. It's important to teach students in linear algebra how to put a matrix into REF (row echelon form), because it will help them with more difficult concepts later on such as the LU factorization technique. Those who go on to take numerical linear algebra will have hopefully developed an intuitive understanding of the programming issues that arise from writing code to solve a linear system.

Uploaded by

Matthew
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Definition: Row Echelon Form of a Matrix

A matrix in Row Echelon Form (REF) has the following properties:

1. All rows consisting entirely of zeros occur at the bottom of the matrix.

2. *Below each leading coefficient (first non-zero entry in a given row, also referred to as a pivot) is a
column of zeros.
3. Each pivot lies to the right of the pivot in the row above, producing a ”stair case” pattern.

* In some books, they require that the leading coefficient of each non-zero row is 1.

Example: Write the following matrix in row echelon form:

   
0 −3 −6 4 9 1 4 5 −9 −7
 −1 −2 −1 3 1   0 2 4 −6 −6 
   
 −2 −3 0 3 −1   0 0 0 0 0 
1 4 5 −9 −7 0 −3 −6 4 9

⇓ ⇓
R1 ¿ R4 R3 ¿ R4
 
  1 4 5 −9 −7
1 4 5 −9 −7  0 2 4 −6 −6 
 −1 −2 −1 3 1   
   0 −3 −6 4 9 
 −2 −3 0 3 −1  0 0 0 0 0
0 −3 −6 4 9

⇓
⇓ (3/2)R2 + R3 → R3
R1 + R2 → R2  
1 4 5 −9 −7
   0 2 4 −6 −6 
1 4 5 −9 −7  
 0 2 4 −6 −6   0 0 0 −5 0 
 
 −2 −3 0 3 −1  0 0 0 0 0
0 −3 −6 4 9 In certain books, the above matrix is in Row Echelon
Form. We can carry out one more step to obtain 1’s
in the pivot position.
⇓
2R1 + R3 → R3
⇓
  (1/2)R2 → R2
1 4 5 −9 −7
 0 2 (−1/5)R3 → R3
 4 −6 −6 
 0 5 10 −15 −15   
1 4 5 −9 −7
0 −3 −6 4 9  0
 1 2 −3 −3 

 0 0 0 1 0 
⇓ 0 0 0 0 0
(−5/2)R2 + R3 → R3 The above matrix is in Row Echelon Form.
The boxed numbers are the pivots.

You might also like