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1.4 The Matrix Equation Ax B

The document defines matrix multiplication (Ax) as the linear combination of the columns of the matrix A using the entries of the vector x as weights. It states that the matrix equation Ax = b is equivalent to the vector equation representing the linear combination, and to the augmented matrix of A and b. It provides examples computing Ax using the definition and row-vector rule, writing vector equations as matrix equations, and solving systems using augmented matrices.

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amit kumar
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77 views2 pages

1.4 The Matrix Equation Ax B

The document defines matrix multiplication (Ax) as the linear combination of the columns of the matrix A using the entries of the vector x as weights. It states that the matrix equation Ax = b is equivalent to the vector equation representing the linear combination, and to the augmented matrix of A and b. It provides examples computing Ax using the definition and row-vector rule, writing vector equations as matrix equations, and solving systems using augmented matrices.

Uploaded by

amit kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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
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1.

4 The Matrix Equation Ax = b


Definition. If A is an m × n matrix, with columns a1 , . . . , an , and if x is in Rn , then the product of A
and x, denoted by Ax, is the linear combination of the columns of A using the corresponding entries in x as
weights; that is,  
x1
Ax = [a1 a2 · · · an ]  x2  = x1 a1 + x2 a2 + · · · + xn an
 
..
.xn
Note that Ax is defined only if the number of columns of A equals the number of entries in x. The
equation Ax = b is called a matrix equation.
Theorem 3. If A is an m × n matrix, with columns a1 , . . . , an , and if b is in Rm , the matrix equation
Ax = b has the same solution set as the vector equation x1 a1 + x2 a2 + · · · + xn an = b, which, in turn, has
the same solution set as the system of linear equations whose augmented matrix is [a1 a2 · · · an b].
The equation Ax = b has a solution if and only if b is a linear combination of the columns of A.
Theorem 4. Let A be an m × n matrix. Then the following statements are logically equivalent. That is, for
a particular A, either they are all true statements or they are all false.
1. For each b in Rm , the equation Ax = b has a solution.
2. Each b in Rm is a linear combination of the columns of A.
3. The columns of A span Rm .
4. A has a pivot position in every row.
If the product Ax is defined, then the ith entry in Ax is the sum of the products of corresponding entries
from row i of A and from the vector x.
Definition. The matrix with 1’s on the diagonal and 0’s elsewhere is called an identity matrix and is denoted
by I.
Theorem 5. If A is an m × n matrix, u and v are vectors in Rn , and c is a scalar, then:
1. A(u + v) = Au + Av
2. A(cu) = c(Au)
The proof follows from the definition of matrix multiplication and multiplication in real numbers.
Example 1. Compute the product using (a) the definition, and (b) the rowvector rule for computing Ax. If
a product is undefined, explain why.
 
2  
5
1.  6 
−1
−1
 
  1
8 3 −4 
2. 1 
5 1 2
1
Example 2. Use the definition of Ax to write the matrix equation as a vector equation, or vice versa.
   
7 −3   1
 −2 −9 
 2 1  
1. 
 9 −6  −5 = 
 
12 
−3 2 −4

1
         
4 −4 −5 3 4
2. z1 + z2 + z3 + z4 =
−2 5 4 0 13
Example 3. Write the system as a vector equation and then as a matrix equation.

8x1 − x2 = 4
5x1 + 4x2 = 1
x1 − 3x2 = 2

Example 4. Given A and b in, write the augmented matrix for the linear system that corresponds to the
matrix equation Ax = b. Then solve the system and write the solution as a vector.
   
1 2 1 0
A =  −3 −1 2  , b =  1 
0 5 3 −1

Example 5. Can every vector in R4 be written as a linear combination of the columns of the following
matrix? Do the columns of this matrix span R3 ?
 
1 3 −2 2
 0
 1 1 −5  
 1 2 −3 7 
−2 −8 2 −1

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