Math 211: MC & LA

Systems of Linear Equations

Patrick Dwomfuor

Department of Engineering
Ashesi University

August 22, 2022

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 1 / 10
 Lecture Outline

Learning Objectives

Know what is a linear system of equations and why is it important to

study it.

How to identify systems of linear equations.

Understand the nature of solution for systems of linear equations.

Study some approaches used in solving systems of linear equations.

Understand some terminology used in systems of linear equations.

How do we apply concepts learnt in class to solve real life problems.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 2 / 10
 Importance of Systems of Linear Equations
What is a system of linear equations?
A system of linear equations is simply a set or collection of two or more
linear equations involving the same set of variables.

Why is it IMPORTANT to study linear systems

1 Linear systems are easy to solve and understand.
2 Linear systems arises from some engineering discipline like electrical,
mechanical and computer engineering.
3 Many real life situations are governed by system of differential
equations and we solve it using some linearization techniques.
Some APPLICATIONS of linear system of equations
(a) It is applied in traffic flow and electrical network modelling.
(b) It is applied in laplace transform to solve problems in control and
dynamical systems.
(c) It is applied in solving differential equations.
Patrick Dwomfuor (Department
Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 3 / 10
 Systems of Linear Equations
A linear equation in n unknowns is an equation of the form
a1 x1 + a2 x2 + · · · + an xn = b
where a1 , a2 , . . . , an are scalars or real numbers and x1 , x2 , . . . , xn are
variables. A linear system of m equations in n unknowns is then a system
of the form
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + · · · + a1n xn = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + · · · + a2n xn = b2
..
.
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + · · · + amn xn = bm

we refer to this equations as m × n linear systems, where aij ’s and bi ’s are

all real numbers.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 4 / 10
 Nature of Solution for Systems of Linear Equations
The set of all possible solutions is called the solution set of the linear
system.
Two linear systems are equivalent if they have the same solution set.

For any systems of linear equations, there are exactly three possibilities for
the set of solutions.
UNIQUE SOLUTION: There is exactly only one solution that
satisfies the linear system.
NO SOLUTION: There is no solution that satisfy the linear system.
INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS: There is more than one solution
that satisfy the linear system.

NB: A system of linear equations is said to be consistent if it has either

one solution or infinitely many solutions whiles a system is inconsistent
if it has no solution.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 5 / 10
 Consider a 2 × 2 Systems
Let us examine geometrically a system of the form
a11 x1 + a12 x2 = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 = b2
Solve the following systems of equations and identify the nature their of
solutions:
(i) x1 + x2 = 2 (ii) x1 + x2 = 2 (iii) x1 + x2 = 2
x1 − x2 = 2 x1 + x2 = 1 −x1 − x2 = −2

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 6 / 10
 Approach in Solving Systems of Linear Equations
Some methods used in solving systems of linear equations are:
Gaussian Elimination: is a row reduction method used to reduce a
linear systems of equations to a triangular form. The idea is to make
solving systems of linear equations very easy and simple.

Reduced Row Echelon Form (rref seen on TI 84 or 89 and Matlab

or Octave)

Gauss–Jordan Form: is the process of using elementary row

operations to transform a matrix into reduced row echelon form,
example is  
1 0 ... 0
Gauss–Jordan 0 1 . . . 0
 
A −−−−−−−−→  . . . .
 .. .. . . .. 

0 0 ... 1

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 7 / 10
 Gaussian Elimination
Steps involve in Gaussian elimination on the linear system Ax = b:
1 Extract the coefficient matrix, A from the system.
2 Create an augmented matrix (A|b) by merging the coefficient
matrix, A and a column matrix, b on the right-hand side of the
system.
3 The first nonzero entry in each nonzero row is called the pivot.
4 Eliminate all terms below the first pivot.
5 Select the next pivot in the second row and eliminate all terms below
the second pivot.
6 The elimination continues until a triangular matrix (upper or lower
triangular matrix) is formed.
7 The triangular system is easily solved by a simple method known as
back substitution.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 8 / 10
 Reduced Row Echelon Form (rref)

A matrix is said to be in reduced row echelon form (rref)

(i) If the first nonzero entry in each nonzero row is 1.

(ii) If each leading 1 is the only nonzero entry in its column.

(iii) If row k does not consist entirely of zeros, the number of leading zero
entries in row k + 1 is greater than the number of leading zero entries
in row k.

(iv) If there are rows whose entries are all zero, they are below the rows
having nonzero entries.

(v) All entries in a column below a leading entry (pivot) are zeros.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 9 / 10
 Extra Terminology
Consider a linear system of m equations in n unknowns is then a system of
the form Ax = b.
Underdetermined Systems: It is system of fewer equations than
unknowns (m < n). It is possible for the system to be inconsistent
but are usually consistent with infinitely many solutions.
Overdetermined Systems: It is system of more equations than
unknowns (m > n). Overdetermined systems are usually (but not
always) inconsistent.
If b = 0 we say the system is homogeneous system whiles b 6= 0
makes the system nonhomogeneous system.
basic variables and free variables occurs during elementary row
reduction.

Patrick Dwomfuor (Department

Math 211:
of MC
Engineering
& LA Ashesi University) August 22, 2022 10 / 10