Homework #2 Due: September 6

In all homework problems, it is not sufficient to show only the answers. You must show your
work.

1. Solve the linear system via Gauss-Jordan reduction. Express your answers in the form
of Theorem 3.1, Page 24 of the text.
2x + y + 3z = 1
(a) 4x + 3y + 5z = 1
6x + 5y + 5z = −3

I Solution. Use augmented matrices with Gauss-Jordan reduction:

   
2 1 3 1 2 1 3 1
−2ρ1 +ρ2
4 3 5 1 −→ 0 1 −1 −1
−3ρ1 +ρ3
 6 5 5 −3   0 21 −43 −61 
2 1 3 1 1
ρ
1 2 2 2
2 1
−→ 0 1 −1 −1 −→ 0 1 −1 −1
−2ρ2 +ρ3 − 12 ρ3
0 01 −2 −4 0 0 1 2
1 2 0 − 25

− 12 ρ2 +ρ1
1 0 0 −3
ρ3 +ρ2
−→ 0 1 0 1  −→ 0 1 0 1
− 32 ρ3 +ρ1
0 0 1 2 0 0 1 2

The last matrix is in reduced echelon form, so the solution can be read off as

(x, y, z) = (−3, 1, 2).

J
x1 + 3x2 + x3 + 5x4 + x5 = 5
(b) x2 + x3 + 2x4 + x5 = 4
2x1 + 5x2 + 7x4 + x5 = 3

I Solution. Apply Gauss-Jordan reduction to the augmented matrix:

   
1 3 1 5 1 5 1 3 1 5 1 5
−2ρ1 +ρ3
0 1 1 2 1 4 −→ 0 1 1 2 1 4
 2 5 0 7 1 3  0 −1 −2 −3 −1 −7 
1 3 1 5 1 5 1 3 0 4 1 2
ρ2 +ρ3 ρ3 +ρ2
−→ 0 1 1 2 1 4 −→ 0 1 0 1 1 1
ρ3 +ρ1
0 0 −1 −1 0 −3 0 0 −1 −1 0 −3
1 0 0 1 −2 −1
−3ρ2 +ρ1
−→ 0 1 0 1 1 1
−ρ3
0 0 1 1 0 3

Math 2085 1
Homework #2 Due: September 6

The last matrix is in reduced echelon form, which is the augmented matrix of the
linear system in reduced echelon form

x1 + x4 − 2x5 = −1
x2 + x4 + x5 = 1
x3 + x4 = 3

Thus, the leading variables are x1 , x2 and x3 , which means that the free variables
are x4 and x5 . Thus we can write the solutions as
         
x1 −1 − x4 + 2x5 −1 −1 2
x2   1 − x4 − x5   1 −1 −1
         
x3  = 
   3 − x4  =  3 + −1 x4 +  0 x5
      
x4   x4   0  1  0
x5 x5 0 0 1

where x4 and x5 can be any real numbers. The term without the parameters x4
and x5 is the particular solution with x4 = x5 = 0, whereas the linear combi-
nation with the parameters x4 and x5 is the general solution of the associated
homogeneous system. J

2. Consider the system of linear equations

x+y− z=a
(1)
x − y + 2z = b

where a and b are some real numbers.

(a) Find the general solution of the associated homogeneous equation.

I Solution. The associated homogeneous system is

x+y− z=0
x − y + 2z = 0

Solve by Gauss-Jordan reduction:

   
1 1 −1 0 −ρ1 +ρ2 1 1 −1 0
−→
1 −1 2 0 0 −2 3 0
1
 
1 1 −1 0 −ρ2 +ρ1 1 0 0
−→ −→ 2
1
− 2 ρ2 0 1 − 23 0 0 1 − 23 0

The last matrix is in reduced echelon form, which is the augmented matrix of the
following linear system in reduced echelon form

x + 12 z = 0
x2 − 23 z = 2

Math 2085 2
Homework #2 Due: September 6

The leading variables are x and y, while the remaining variable z is the only free
variable. Thus, the solution set is
   
x −1/2
y  =  3/2  z
z 1

where z can be any real number. J

(b) A particular solution of Equation (1) when a = 1 and b = 2 is (x, y, z) = (1, 1, 1).
Find the general solution of Equation (1).

I Solution. The general solution in this case is the sum of the given particular
solution and the general solution of the associated homogeneous equation. Thus,
the general solution with a = 1, b = 2 is
     
x 1 −1/2
y  = 1 +  3/2  z
z 1 1

where z is an arbitrary real number. J

(c) Find a particular solution of Equation (1) when a = −1 and b = −2.

I Solution. Just multiply a particular solution for the case a = 1, b = 2 by −1.

Thus, a particular solution is (x, y, z) = (−1, −1, −1). J

(d) Find a particular solution of Equation (1) when a = 3 and b = 6.

I Solution. Just multiply a particular solution for the case a = 1, b = 2 by 3.

Thus, a particular solution is (x, y, z) = (3, 3, 3). J

[Remark: After you have done part (a), it is possible to immediately write down the
solutions in the remaining parts. Of course, you need to explain how you got your
answers.]

3. Consider the system of linear equations

x + x + kz = 1
x + ky + z = 1 (2)
kx + y + z = 1

where k is some real number. For what value(s) of k does this system have

(a) a unique solution?

(b) no solution?
(c) infinitely many solutions?

Math 2085 3
Homework #2 Due: September 6

(Justify your assertions.)

I Solution. Use augmented matrices with Gauss reduction to reduce to echelon form:
   
1 1 k 1 1 1 k 1
−ρ1 +ρ2
 1 k 1 1 −→ 0 k − 1 1 − k 0 
−kρ1 +ρ3 2
 k 1 1 1  0 1−k 1−k 1−k
1 1 k 1
−→ 0 k − 1 1−k 0 
ρ2 +ρ3 2
0 0 2−k−k 1−k

The last matrix is in echelon form, so the system will have a unique solution if and
only if all of the variables are leading variables. This will happen so long as k − 1 6= 0
and 2 − k − k 2 6= 0. Since 2 − k − k 2 = (s + k)(1 − k) = 0 if and only if k = −2 or
k = 1, it follows that the system will have a unique solution provided k 6= −2 or 1.
 
1 1 −2 1
If k = −2 then the augmented matrix is 0 −3 3 0. Since the last row represents
0 0 0 3
the inconsistent equation 0 = 3, there will be no solutions to the system if k = −2.
 
1 1 1 1
If k = 1 then the augmented matrix is 0 0 0 . This matrix has no rows rep-
0 0 0 0
resenting an inconsistent equation, so there are solutions. Moreover, there is only one
leading variable, namely x, so there are free variables (namely, y and z). Thus, there
are infinitely many solutions to the system in case k = 1. J

Math 2085 4