CHAPTER 4 Linear Equations in Linear Algebra x (0.=) si 1 Each of the original equations determines a plane in three-dimensional space. The point (1,0,—1) lies in all three planes. ¥ «uation 1, butit is more effcien, term from ul i -tx3 terms in equations 2 and | Eventually you want to eliminate the =2x2 EAN touse the x3 inequation 3 first to eliminate ‘The two “mental” calculations are axyc—4—~1- [equation 3] Sei «fequation 3 4 [equation 3] + lequation!] 172% +45 =0 __tlequation AT Fee i - = 4 + [equation2] x2 4% i = Frewequaion2] = = Trewequation!] «1-28 =I Tis convenient to combine the results of theso to operations: x-2mn = 1 pai o i Feo |0n Tecan awe oo 1-l above the x3 in equation 3, move back tothe xin ax above it, Because of the previous work with terms, Add 2 times equation 2 to equation | Now, having cleaned out the column ‘equation 2 and use it to eliminate the 2, there is now no arithmetic involving +3 and obtain the system: x 1 1, 0 O f Hed 10 2 0 0 elo 0. il x ‘The work is essentially done. It shows that the only solution of the original system is (1,0, 1), However, ince there are so many calculations involved, itis a good practice to-check the work. To verify that (1,0, —1) isa solution, substitute these values into the left side of the original system, and compute: 10)-20 +1) =1-0-1= 0 2(0) = 8(-1) 0+8= 8 / 5(1) - 5(-1) +5=10 Reeieigs with the right side of the original system, so (1,0,—1) is a solution of spre sam 1 illusttes how operations on equation ina linear sytem correspond 0 operations onthe appropriate rows ofthe augmented matrix. The thre basic operations correspond to the following operations on the augmented mattix. . ELEMENTARY ROW OPERATIONS 1, (Replacement) itself’ Replacement) Replace one row by the sum of itself and a multiple of another 2. (Interchange) Interchange two rows, 3. (Scaling) Multiply all entries in a row by a nonzero constant. Row operation ic erations can be applied to any matrix, not merely to one that arises as the augmented matri ix of a linear system, Two matrices are called row equivalent if there is a sequence tt (eee perl ther goertions that transforms one matrix into the other. chtcgoa, perations are 'ged, they can be returned to their original Saha by aoe ete Be. , ‘A common pr W ” | Pesphase of ow replceient Is “Ad tone ow a muliple of 0 ‘4 multiple of another row‘44 Systems of Linear Equations 7 row is scaled by a nonzero constant ¢, then multiplying the new row by 1/c produces the original row. Finally, consider a replacement operation involving two rows—Sa¥s rows I and 2—and suppose that c times row 1 is added to row 2 to produce @ new ro. 2, To “reverse” this operation, add ~c times row | to (new) row 2 and obtain the original row 2, See Exercises 29-32 at the end of this section. ‘At the moment, we are interested in row operations on the augmented matrix of & system of linear equations. Suppose a systems changed to # new one vit ow operations. By considering each type of row operation, you can see that any solution ofthe original ‘system remains a solution of the new system. Conversely, since the original system con be produced via row operations on the new system, each solution of the new system is also a solution of the original system. This discussion justifies the following statement. Ifthe augmented matrices of two linear systems are row equivalent, then the two systems have the same solution set. ‘Though Example 1 is lengthy, you will ind that after some practice, the calculations g0 quickly. Row operations in the text and exercises will usually be extremely easy 19 perform, allowing you to focus on the underlying concepts. Still, you must learn to perform row operations accurately because they will be used throughout ihe “The rest of this section shows how to use row operations to determine the size of a solution set, without completely solving the linear system. Existence and Uniqueness Questions ear system contains either no solutions, Section 1.2 will show why a solution get fora lin questions will one solution, of infinitely many solutions. Answers to the following two determine the nature of the solution set for a linear system. ‘To determine which possibility is rue fora particular system, we ask two questions. DAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT A LINEAR SYSTEM 1. Is the system consis.» « that is, does at least one solution exist? + se ony one; that is, is the solution unigu 2, Ifa solution exists, « Le ill o-sear throughout the text, in many different guises. This | show how to answer these questions via row operations on ‘Two FUN! ‘These two questions w section and the next wil the augmented mattix. EXAMPLE 2_ Determine if the following system ‘sgeuisistemt: m-Imt = 0 2x2 - 8x = 8 5x — 5x3 = 10 ‘This isthe system from Example 1, Suppose that we have performed the s 10. wry to obtain the triangular form uln+ me 0 aa oO mays 4 o 1-4 4 ee oo 1-1CHAPTER 1 Linear Equations in Linear Algebra The system is inconsistent because there is no point that lies on all three planes. : ae ‘ond stitute the value‘ of x3 into equation 2, we ‘int, we know x3. Were we (0 yt zl : At - rove ta and hence could determine x; from equation. So a soliton cists, con ares consistent, In fact, 2 is uniquely determined by Squation 2 sie a oe yee cable valu, andy i therefore uniquely determined by equation 1 Soihe onl ; i u solution is unique.) EXAMPLE 3. Determine ifthe following system is consistent: yo 4x =8 2x) -3m+ 2x =1 6) 4xy — 8x + 2x5 = I SOLUTION The augmented matrix is o 1 -4 QB 12 gh ag AAs 1 ‘To obtain an 2 in the first equation, interchange rows | and 2: Bed, 1 o 1 -4 8 4-312 1 To eliminate the 4x; term in the third equation, add —2 timeSTow 1 to vow 3 Bee cl 0 1-4.8 o 0-2 8-1 Next, use the 32 term in the second equation to eliminate the —2.r2 term from the thitd equation. Add 2 times row 2 (0 row 3: Deeds ¢ 8 a 0 ‘The augmented matrix is rca Te 10 back to a triangular form, i ctly, k a ra gt 'o interpret it correctly, g¢ 2a — 4x; ® Te eg 0 = 15 isa short form of Ox) + Ora + Oxy = 15. This system in tat sites K viously has a built-in contradiction. There are no values of Xp. 3, .¥5 that Solution set hae tate uation O = 15 is never true. Since (8) and (5) have the Sa the original system is inconsistent (.., has no solution) A Pay close attention to the augme Pa r vented matrix in (7). Its la cal of inconsistent system in triangular form, ametf~ NUMERICAL NOTE 4.4. Systems of Lineur Equations. 9 In real-world problems, systems of linear equations are solved by a computer. For a square coefficient matrix, computer programs nearly always use the elim- ination algorithm given here and in Section 1.2, modified slightly for improved accuracy, The vast majority of linear algebra problems in business and industry are solved with programs that use floating point arithmetic, Numbers are represented as decimals +.d ---