Math132 preliminary notes

Systems of linear equations - method of elimination

We will use a modified form of this method for much of the Linear Algebra part of the
course.

Definition: A linear equation in the variables , ,…, is an equation of the form

+ + ⋯+ =

where and the coefficients , ,…, are real numbers.

Examples:
⎯⎯
3 +2 − = 9 and 4 − 3√5 = 0 are linear equations.

5 +7 = 10, 3 −2 = 5 and 6√⎯⎯ − = 0 are not linear (or nonlinear).

A system of linear equations is a collection of linear equations, e.g.

− + =2
−2 −3 + = −3
5 − 20 + 14 =8

Aim: To develop a systematic method to solve a system of linear equations.

Example: (2 equations in 2 variables) Consider

−4 =5
2 +3 = −1

A solution of the system is a pair of numbers ( , ) which satisfy both equations.

We will use the notation 1 for equation 1 of a system, 2 for equation 2, etc…

Eliminate from 2 using the operation 2 − 2 1:

−4 =5
11 = −11

This system is equivalent to the original system.

Definition: Two linear systems are equivalent if they have the same solution set, i.e.
if every solution of one system is a solution of the other.

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 Now the above system is equivalent to

−4 =5

= −1 ( 2 × ⎯⎯)

So the only solution of this system, and hence the original system, is = −1 and
= 1 (by back substituting into 1).

Example: (3 equations in 3 variables) Consider

− + =2
−2 −3 + = −3
5 − 20 + 14 =8

Eliminating from 2 and 3 we get the equivalent system

− + =2
−5 +3 = 1 ( 2 + 2 1)
−15 +9 = −2 ( 3 − 5 1)

Eliminating from 3 gives the equivalent system

− + =2
−5 +3 =1
0 +0 = −5 ( 3 − 3 2)

Obviously 3 is false. So this system, and hence the original system, has no
solution.

The elimination algorithm can loosely be stated as follows:

Eliminate from 2, 3, … , (using E1).

Eliminate from 3, 4, … , (using E2).

Eliminate from 4, 5, … , (using E3), etc…

Example: (System with infinitely many solutions)

− +3 = −5
+ +2 =6
− + −8 =4

Interchanging 1 and 2 gives the equivalent system

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 + +2 = 6 ( 1 ↔ 2)
− +3 = −5
− + −8 =4

This is equivalent to

+ +2 =6
− +3 = −5
2 −6 = 10 ( 3 + 1)

which in turn is equivalent to

+ +2 =6
− +3 = −5
0 +0 = 0 ( 3 + 2 2)

Now 3 holds for all and .

From 2 we get =5+3 and back substituting into 1 we have =1−5 .
Therefore we can choose any and use the above equations to find the corresponding
and values, i.e. there are infinitely many solutions
We express the general solution as
=1−5
=5+3
is free (i.e. ∈ ℝ)

The above examples demonstrate the following.

• A system of linear equations has three solution possibilities:
○ A unique solution, or
○ Infinitely many solutions, or
○ No solution.

• The elementary operations that change a system into an equivalent system:

○ Replace one equation by the sum of itself and a multiple of another equation.
○ Interchange two equations.
○ Multiply an equation by a nonzero constant.

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Definitions: A consistent system is a system that has either one solution or infinitely many
solutions. An inconsistent system has no solution.

Graphical interpretation

• 2 equations and 2 variables:

+ =#
+ =#

Each equation represents a straight line. We label the lines ℓ and ℓ , respectively.

ℓ
ℓ ℓ
ℓ

Unique solution - ℓ and ℓ intersect Infinitely many solutions - ℓ and ℓ

at exactly one point. coincide

No solution - ℓ and ℓ do not intersect

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• 3 equations and 3 variables:

+ + =%

+ + =%
# +# +# =%

Each equation represents a plane. Label the planes & , & and & , respectively.

&
&

&
&

&
&

Unique solution - & , & and & Infinitely many solutions - & , &
intersect at exactly one point and & intersect in a line

&

&

&

No solution - no common intersection of

all three planes.

Exercises: Complete problems 1-4 and 11-18 on the next page using the method of
elimination demonstrated above.

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