Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Math 4A: Linear Algebra

Lecture 05: Solution Sets of Systems
• Homogeneous Systems, Nonhomogeneous Systems,
• Parametric Vector Equations,
• & Applications / More!

Instructor’s Office Hours

Peter M. Garfield Sundays 8:00–9:00pm on Zoom
[email protected] Tuesdays 8:00–9:00pm on Zoom
South Hall 6510 Wednesdays 2:00–3:00pm in my office
Thursdays 8:00–9:00pm on Zoom

© 2022 Peter M. Garfield Please do not distribute this material.

Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Homogeneous Linear Systems

Definition: Homogeneous Systems
A linear system is called homogeneous if it can be written as Ax = 0 (where
A is an m × n matrix and 0 is the zero vector in Rm ). That is, a homogeneous
system has no (non-zero) constant terms.

Question: What can we say about the solution set of a homogeneous system?
• First, 0 (the zero vector in Rn ) is always a solution to a homogeneous system. This is
the trivial solution.

• This means that homogeneous systems are always consistent.

• When is there more than one solution to a homogeneous system? When is there a
non-trivial solution?

Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Non-Trivial Solutions
Theorem: Existence of Non-Trivial Solutions
A homogeneous system Ax = 0 has a non-trivial solution if and only if the
system has at least one free variable.

Example: x + 2y + 4z = 0
1. Solve the linear system 3x + 4y + 6z = 0
−x + 2z = 0

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

       
1 2 4 0 1 0 −2 0 x 2
 3 4 6 0  ∼ 0 1 3 0  =⇒ y  = t −3
−1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 z 1
Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Solutions to a Linear Equation

2. Describe the solution set in R2 of the linear system
3x − 6y = 0

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

This is the system  
  x  
3 −6 = 0 .
y
Then    
3 −6 0 −→ 1 −2 0 or x − 2y = 0.

Setting y = t, we get x = 2t and

      u
x 2t 2
= =t = tu. x
y t 1
Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Nonhomogeneous Linear Systems

Definition: Nonhomogeneous Systems
A linear system is called nonhomogeneous if it is not homogeneous. That is, a
nonhomogeneous system is one of the form Ax = b (where A is an m × n matrix
and b is a non-zero vector in Rm ).

Question: What can we say about the solution set of a nonhomogeneous system?
• First, 0 (the zero vector in Rn ) is never a solution to a nonhomogeneous system.

• Nonhomogeneous systems may be inconsistent (or consistent).

• How does the solution set to Ax = b relate to the solution to the corresponding
homogeneous system Ax = 0?

Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Solutions to a Linear Equation

3. Describe the solution set in R2 of the linear system
2x + 4y = 4.

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

 
  x  
This is the system 2 4 = 4 . Then
y
   
2 4 4 −→ 1 2 2 or x + 2y = 2.
y

Setting y = t, we get x = 2 − 2t and

        u
x 2 − 2t 2 −2
= = +t = p + tu. p x
y t 0 1

Result: Line parallel to u shifted by the translation p.

Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Solutions to a Linear Equation

4. Describe the solution set in R3 of the linear system

x + 3y + 2z = 0.

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

 
  x    
This is the system 1 3 2 y  = 0 . Then 1 3 2 0 .
z
Setting y = s and z = t we get x = −3s − 2t and
       
x −3s − 2t −3 −2
y  =  s  = s  1  + t  0  = su + tv.
z t 0 1

Thus Span{u, v} is a plane through the origin in R3 .

Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Solutions to a Linear Equation

5. Describe the solution set in R3 of the linear system
x + 3y + 2z = 5.

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

 
  x    
This is the system 1 3 2 y  = 5 . Then 1 3 2 5
z
Setting y = s and z = t we get x = 5 − 3s − 2t and
         
x 5 − 3s − 2t 5 −3 −2
y  =  s  = 0 + s  1  + t  0  = p + su + tv.
z t 0 0 1
Thus this solution set is plane through the the “point” p parallel to Span{u, v}. This
kind of expression is called a parametric vector equation of a plane.
Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

Sol’ns of Nonhomogeneous Systems

Solution Set of a Nonhomogeneous System
Suppose Ax = b is a consistent nonhomogeneous system with a solution p (so
Ap = b). The solution set of Ax = b is

{p + vh : vh is a solution to Ax = 0}

That is, the solution set of a nonhomogeneous system is a translation of the solution set of
the corresponding homogeneous system.

Examples:
• The solution set of a linear system in one equation in two unknowns is a line, possibly
translated to not be through the origin.

• The solution set of a linear system in one equation in three unknowns is a plane,
possibly translated to not be through the origin.
Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Homogeneous Equations Nonhomogeneous Systems An Application

A Little Bit of Chemistry

6. Balance the equation
propane + oxygen −→ carbon dioxide + water
x1 C3 H8 + x2 O2 −→ x3 CO2 + x4 H2 O

(A) Working (B) Talking (C) Confused (D) Done

Carbon: 3x1 + 0x2 = 1x3 + 0x4

Hydrogen: 8x1 + 0x2 = 0x3 + 2x4
Oxygen: 0x1 + 2x2 = 2x3 + 1x4
 
 x
0  1
  
 
3
 
0
 
1
 
0 3 0 −1 0
x2   
=⇒ 8 0 0 −2  = 0
x1 8 + x2 0 = x3 0 + x4 2 x3 
0 2 2 1 0 2 −2 −1 0
x4
Lecture 04: Matrix Equations Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics