LINEAR

ALGEBRA
FOR TEACHERS

LESSON 1
LINEAR SYSTEMS

Learning Outcomes
(1) Review concepts on systems of linear equations; (2) Solve systems of linear equations using the method of elimination; (3) Apply linear
systems to real life problems
Time Frame: 3 hours

In many problems, we seem to relate two sets of variables and form equations involving them. An equation of the
form
𝑎𝑥 = 𝑏
expressing the variable 𝑏 in terms of the variable 𝑥 and the constant 𝑎 is called linear equation. The graph of such
equation is a straight line, hence, the word linear.
Similarly, the equation
𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏 (1)
expressing 𝑏 in terms of the variables 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 and the known constants 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , … , 𝑎𝑛 is called linear equation.
In many applications, we are given 𝑏 and the constant 𝑎 and must find numbers 𝑥 called unknowns satisfying a
given linear equation. Finding these numbers is solving the linear equation. That is, if a sequence of numbers
𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , … 𝑠𝑛 which has a property that (1) is satisfied when we substitute 𝑥1 = 𝑠1 , 𝑥2 = 𝑠2 , … 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑠𝑛 in (1).
The sequence of numbers 𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , … 𝑠𝑛 that satisfy (1) when substituted to (1) is a solution to a linear equation. For
example, 𝑥1 = 4, 𝑥2 = −1 𝑥3 = 3 is a solution to the linear equation
2𝑥1 + 3𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 2
because
2(4) + 3(−1) − (3) = 2
In fact, this is not the only solution to the given linear equation.

Linear Systems

As system of linear equations or simply linear system is a set of 𝑚 linear equations each in 𝑛 unknowns. It can be
conveniently denoted by
𝑎11 𝑥1 + 𝑎12 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏1
𝑎21 𝑥1 + 𝑎22 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎2𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏2
(2)
⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
𝑎𝑚1 𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑚2 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏𝑚
Notice the subscripts of each equation. The two subscripts 𝑚 and 𝑛 are used as follows. The subscript 𝑚, the first
subscript, indicates that we are dealing with the 𝑚th equation while the subscript 𝑛 is associated with the the 𝑛th
st st
variable 𝑥𝑛 . For instance, 𝑎11 means that it is the constant from the 1 equation associated with the 1 variable 𝑥1 .
For the purpose of consistency with the succeeding lessons, we shall denote the constants 𝑎𝑖𝑗 which indicates
that we are dealing with the constant of the 𝑖th equation associated with the 𝑗th variable 𝑥𝑗 . For example, 𝑎32 indicates
rd nd
that it is the constant of the 3 equation associated with the 2 variable 𝑥2
In (2), 𝑎𝑖𝑗 are the known constants. Given the values of 𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , … , 𝑏𝑛 , we want to find the values of 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 that
will satisfy each equation in (2).
A solution to a linear system is a sequence of 𝑛 numbers 𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , … , 𝑠𝑛 which has the property that each equation in
(2) is satisfied when 𝑥1 = 𝑠1 , 𝑥2 = 𝑠2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑠𝑛 are substituted in (2).
A linear system may or may not have a solution. If a linear system has a solution/s, it is called consistent. If it has
no solution, it is called inconsistent. Geometrically, the solution of a linear system is the point (𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , … , 𝑠3 ) that is
common to all the equations in (2). Hence, there are three possibilities that may arise when it comes to the solution of
the linear system with two variables
𝑎11 𝑥1 + 𝑎12 𝑥2 = 𝑏1
𝑎21 𝑥1 + 𝑎22 𝑥2 = 𝑏2
where 𝑙1 is the graph of 𝑎11 𝑥1 + 𝑎12 𝑥2 = 𝑏1 and 𝑙2 is the graph of 𝑎21 𝑥1 + 𝑎22 𝑥2 = 𝑏2 . This could be generalized for (2),
in which the graph of each of the equation is a plane denoted by 𝑃1 , 𝑃2 ,…, 𝑃3 .
Type of System Definition For linear system of 2 equations Generalized linear system

The lines 𝑙1 , 𝑙2 The planes

intersect at 𝑃1 , 𝑃2 , … , 𝑃3
The system
Consistent- exactly one intersect at
has a unique
independent point. exactly one
solution.
point.

The lines The planes

The system 𝑙1 , 𝑙2 coincide. 𝑃1 , 𝑃2 , … , 𝑃3
Consistent- has infinitely intersect in a
dependent many line.
solutions.

The planes
The lines 𝑙1 , 𝑙2 𝑃1 , 𝑃2 , … , 𝑃3 do
are parallel. not have a
The system
common
Inconsistent has no
intersection.
solution.

Method of Elimination

To find solutions to a linear system, we shall use a technique called method of elimination. That is, we eliminate
some unknowns by adding a multiple of one equation to another equation. In high school algebra courses, most
examples are confined with linear system of two two-variable equations or with linear systems where 𝑚 = 𝑛. In this
course, we expand it by examining also 𝑚 < 𝑛 cases (e.g. 2 equations with 3 variables) and 𝑚 > 𝑛 (e.g. 3 equations
with 2 variables). For the purpose of writing the variables easier, we will use 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑤, … instead of 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 .

The method of elimination consists of repeatedly

performing the following operations:
M1. Interchanging two equations.
M2. Multiply an equation by a nonzero constant.
M3. Add a multiple of one equation to another.