MATH 2161: Matrices and

Vector Analysis

Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif

Lecturer in Mathematics
Department of General Education
Canadian University of Bangladesh
Former Lecturer, World University of Bangladesh

Lesson 04 01
 Lecture Outline

Linear Equations

System of Linear Equations

Solution of System of Linear Equations

Solution of Linear Systems by Matrix Method

Characteristic Vector and Characteristic Root

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 02

 Linear Equations
A linear equation does not involve any products or roots of variables. All variables occur
only to the first power and do not appear as arguments of trigonometric, logarithmic, or
exponential functions.

Linear Equations Non-Linear Equations

𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 7 𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 = 4

𝑥1 − 2𝑥2 − 3𝑥3 + 𝑥4 = 0 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 = 5

0.5𝑥 − 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = −1 sin 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0

2𝑎 + 4𝑏 = 6 𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 1

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 03

 System of Linear Equations
A finite set of linear equations is called a system of linear equations or, more briefly,
a linear system. The variables are called unknowns. For example,
System 𝐴 has unknowns 𝑥 and 𝑦
5𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3
ൠ 𝐴
2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 4
System 𝐵 has unknowns 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 and 𝑥3
4𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 3𝑥3 = −1
ൠ 𝐵
3𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 9𝑥3 = −4

System 𝐶 has unknowns 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧

𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 9
2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 1ቑ 𝐶
3𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 04

 Solution of System of Linear Equations
A general linear system of 𝑚 equations in the 𝑛 unknowns 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 can be written as

𝑎11 𝑥1 + 𝑎12 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏1

𝑎21 𝑥1 + 𝑎22 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎2𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏2
⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
𝑎𝑚1 𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑚2 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏𝑚

A solution of a linear system in 𝑛 unknowns 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 is a sequence of 𝑛 numbers

𝑠1 , 𝑠2 , … , 𝑠𝑛 for which the substitution
𝑥1 = 𝑠1 , 𝑥2 = 𝑠2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑠𝑛
Makes each equation a true statement. For example,
 The system in 𝐴 has the solution 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = −2
 The system in 𝐵 has the solution 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑥2 = 2, 𝑥3 = −1
 The system in (𝐶) has the solution 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 2, 𝑧 = 3
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 05
Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices
Problem: Solve the following system of linear equations with the help of matrix
3𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 3
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 𝑧 = −3
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 4
Solution: The above system of linear equations can be written in matrix form as:
3 1 2 𝑥 3
2 −3 −1 𝑦 = −3 ⇒ 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵 … … … 1
1 2 1 𝑧 4
3 1 2 3 𝑥
where, 𝐴 = 2 −3 −1 , 𝐵 = −3 and 𝑋 = 𝑦 . Let 𝐷 be the determinant of the matrix 𝐴.
1 2 1 4 𝑧

3 1 2
−3 −1 2 −1 2 −3
Then 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 2 −3 −1 = +3 −1 +2
2 1 1 1 1 2
1 2 1
= 3 −3 + 2 − 1 2 + 1 + 2 4 + 3 = −3 − 3 + 14 = 𝟖

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 06

Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices

Since 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 8 ≠ 0, so the matrix 𝐴 is non-singular and hence 𝐴−1 exists. We multiply both sides of
equation (1) by 𝐴−1 on the left. Then we get 𝐴−1 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 ⇒ 𝐼𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 ⇒ 𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 … … … (2)

Now the cofactors of 𝐷 are

−3 −1 2 −1 2 −3
𝐴11 = + = −3 + 2 = −1 𝐴12 = − = − 2 + 1 = −3 𝐴13 = + =4+3=7
2 1 1 1 1 2

1 2 3 2 3 1
𝐴21 = − =− 1−4 =3 𝐴22 = + =3−2=1 𝐴23 = − = − 6 − 1 = −5
2 1 1 1 1 2

1 2 3 2 3 1
𝐴31 = + = −1 + 6 = 5 𝐴32 = − = − −3 − 4 = 7 𝐴33 = + = −9 − 2 = −11
−3 −1 2 −1 2 −3

−1 −3 7
∴ Cofactor matrix of 𝐴, 𝑐𝑜𝑓 𝐴 = 3 1 −5
5 7 −11

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 07

Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices
𝑇
−1 −3 7 −1 3 5
𝑇
∴ Adjoint matrix of 𝐴, 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑓 𝐴 = 3 1 −5 = −3 1 7
5 7 −11 7 −5 −11
−1 3 5
1 1
Thus 𝐴−1 = 𝐷 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴 = 8 −3 1 7
7 −5 −11
Now from equation 2 , we get
𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵
𝑥 1 −1 3 5 3 1 8
𝑦 = −3 1 7 −3 = 16
𝑧 8 8
7 −5 −11 4 −8
𝑥 1
𝑦 = 2
𝑧 −1
which gives 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 2, 𝑧 = −1
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 08
Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices

Problem: Solve the following system of linear equations with the help of matrices:
𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 + 3𝑥3 = 5
2𝑥1 + 5𝑥2 + 3𝑥3 = 3
𝑥1 + 8𝑥3 = 17
Solution: The above system of linear equations can be written in matrix form as:
1 2 3 𝑥1 5
2 5 3 𝑥2 = 3 ⇒ 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵 … … … 1
1 0 8 𝑥3 17
1 2 3 5 𝑥1
where, 𝐴 = 2 5 3 , 𝐵 = 3 and 𝑋 = 𝑥2 . Let 𝐷 be the determinant of the matrix 𝐴.
1 0 8 17 𝑥3

1 2 3
5 3 2 3 2 5
Then 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 2 5 3 = +1 −2 +3
0 8 1 8 1 0
1 0 8
= 1 40 − 0 − 2 16 − 3 + 3 0 − 5 = 40 − 26 − 15 = −𝟏

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 09

Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices

Since 𝐷 = 𝐴 = −1 ≠ 0, so the matrix 𝐴 is non-singular and hence 𝐴−1 exists. We multiply both sides of
equation (1) by 𝐴−1 on the left. Then we get 𝐴−1 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 ⇒ 𝐼𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 ⇒ 𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵 … … … (2)

Now the cofactors of 𝐷 are

5 3 2 3 2 5
𝐶11 = + = 40 − 0 = 40 𝐶12 = − = − 16 − 3 = −13 𝐶13 = + = 0 − 5 = −5
0 8 1 8 1 0

2 3 1 3 1 2
𝐶21 = − = − 16 − 0 = −16 𝐶22 = + =8−3=5 𝐶23 = − =− 0−2 =2
0 8 1 8 1 0

2 3 1 3 1 2
𝐶31 = + = 6 − 15 = −9 𝐶32 = − =− 3−6 =3 𝐶33 = + =5−4=1
5 3 2 3 2 5

40 −13 −5
∴ Cofactor matrix of 𝐴, 𝑐𝑜𝑓 𝐴 = 𝐶 = −16 5 2
−9 3 1

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 10

Solution of System of Linear Equations by Applying Matrices

𝑇
40 −13 −5 40 −16 −9
𝑇 𝑇
∴ Adjoint matrix of 𝐴, 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑓 𝐴 = 𝐶 = −16 5 2 = −13 5 3
−9 3 1 −5 2 1

1 1 40 −16 −9 −40 16 9
Thus 𝐴−1 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴 = −13 5 3 = 13 −5 −3
𝐷 −1
−5 2 1 5 −2 −1
Now from equation 2 , we get
𝑋 = 𝐴−1 𝐵
𝑥1 −40 16 9 5 1
𝑥2 = 13 −5 −3 3 = −1
𝑥3 5 −2 −1 17 2
𝑥1 1
𝑥2 = −1
𝑥3 2
which gives 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑥2 = −1, 𝑥3 = 2

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 11

 Characteristic Vector and Characteristic Root
A non-zero vector 𝑋 is defined as a characteristic vector of a matrix 𝐴 if there exists a
number 𝜆 such that 𝐴𝑋 = 𝜆𝑋, where 𝜆 is defined as a characteristic root corresponding to
the characteristic vector 𝑋.

The characteristic roots characteristic vectors can also be written as 𝐴𝑋 = 𝜆𝐼𝑋, where 𝐼
being the unit matrix of order 𝑛 & 𝐴 = 𝑎𝑖𝑗 be a matrix of order 𝑛 × 𝑛. Now

(a) The matrix 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 or 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 is called the characteristic matrix of 𝐴.

(b) The determinant 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 or 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 is called the characteristic polynomial of 𝐴.
(c) 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0 is called the characteristic equation of 𝐴.
(d) 𝜆 is called characteristic root or eigenvalue (proper value) of 𝐴.

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 12

 Next Lecture

 Matrix Polynomials

 Characteristic Matrix

 Characteristic Polynomial

 Characteristic Equation

 Characteristic Root and Characteristic Vector

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 04 13