MTH165

Lecture-4

Solution of Linear System of Equations I

Unit 1: Linear Algebra

(Book: Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Jain and Iyengar, Chapter-3)

Topic:

Solution of Linear System of Equations

Learning Outcomes:

1. Linear System of Equations- Homogeneous and Non Homogeneous.

2. Solution of Linear System of Equations using Cramer’s rule (Determinant method).

3. Solution of Linear System of Equations using Gauss-Elimination method (Rank method).

Solution of Non-Homogeneous System of Equations:

(Cramer’s Rule)
Let us consider the following system of equations:
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 + 𝑐1 𝑧 = 𝑑1 (1)
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑐2 𝑧 = 𝑑2 (2)
𝑎3 𝑥 + 𝑏3 𝑦 + 𝑐3 𝑧 = 𝑑3 (3)
The given system can be written as:

𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑥 𝑑1
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 𝑦 = 𝑑2 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝑧 𝑑3
𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑥 𝑑1
Where A = 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 , X = 𝑦 , B = 𝑑2
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝑧 𝑑3

𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑑1 𝑏1 𝑐1
Let 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 , 𝐷𝑥 = 𝑑2 𝑏2 𝑐2 ,
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝑑3 𝑏3 𝑐3

𝑎1 𝑑1 𝑐1 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑑1
𝐷𝑦 = 𝑎2 𝑑2 𝑐2 , 𝐷𝑧 = 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑑2
𝑎3 𝑑3 𝑐3 𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑑3
Case 1. If 𝐷 ≠ 𝑂, the given system of equations is said to be consistent and
has a unique solution given by:

𝐷𝑥 𝐷𝑦 𝐷𝑧
𝑥= ,𝑦 = ,𝑧 =
𝐷 𝐷 𝐷

Case 2. If 𝐷 = 0 and 𝐷𝑥 = 𝐷𝑦 = 𝐷𝑧 = 0 , still the given system of

equations is said to be consistent and has infinitely many solutions.

Case 3. If 𝐷 = 0 but 𝐷𝑥 , 𝐷𝑦 , 𝐷𝑧 are not all zero, then the given system of
equations is said to be inconsistent and has no solution.
Problem 1. Show that the following system of equations is consistent:
𝑥−𝑦+𝑧 =4 (1)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 0 (2)
𝑥+𝑦+𝑧 =2 (3)
Solution. The given system can be written as:

1 −1 1 𝑥 4
2 1 −3 𝑦 = 0 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵
1 1 1 𝑧 2

1 −1 1 𝑥 4
Where A = 2 1 −3 , X = 𝑦 , B = 0
1 1 1 𝑧 2
1 −1 1
Let 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 2 1 −3 = 1 1 + 3 + 1 2 + 3 + 1 2 − 1 = 10 ≠ 0.
1 1 1
As 𝐷 ≠ 0, the system of equations is consistent and has a unique solution

4 −1 1
𝐷𝑥 = 0 1 −3 = 4 1 + 3 + 1 0 + 6 + 1 0 − 2 = 20
2 1 1

1 4 1
𝐷𝑦 = 2 0 −3 = 1 0 + 6 − 4 2 + 3 + 1 4 − 0 = −10
1 2 1
1 −1 4
𝐷𝑧 = 2 1 0 = 1 2 − 0 + 1 4 − 0 + 4 2 − 1 = 10
1 1 2
𝐷𝑥 20
𝑥= = = 2,
𝐷 10
𝐷𝑦 −10
𝑦= = = −1,
𝐷 10
𝐷𝑧 10
𝑧= = =1
𝐷 10
Problem 2. Show that the following system of equations is inconsistent:
4𝑥 + 9𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 6 (1)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2 (2)
2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 7 (3)
Solution. The given system can be written as:

4 9 3 𝑥 6
2 3 1 𝑦 = 2 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵
2 6 2 𝑧 7

4 9 3 𝑥 6
Where A = 2 3 1 , X = 𝑦 , B = 2
2 6 2 𝑧 7
4 9 3
Let 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 2 3 1 = 4 6 − 6 − 9 4 − 2 + 3 12 − 6 = 0.
2 6 2

6 9 3
𝐷𝑥 = 2 3 1 = 6 6 − 6 − 9 4 − 7 + 3 12 − 21 = 0
7 6 2

4 6 3
𝐷𝑦 = 2 2 1 = 4 4 − 7 − 6 4 − 2 + 3 14 − 4 = 6
2 7 2
4 9 6
𝐷𝑧 = 2 3 2 = 4 21 − 18 − 9 14 − 4 + 6 12 − 6 = −42
2 6 7
Since 𝐷 = 0 and 𝐷𝑥 = 0, 𝐷𝑦 = 6, 𝐷𝑧 = −42

So, the given system is inconsistent and has no solution.

Problem 3. Show that the following system of equations is consistent and has
infinitely many solutions:
𝑥 − 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 3 (1)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2 (2)
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 5 (3)
Solution. The given system can be written as:

1 −1 3 𝑥 3
2 3 1 𝑦 = 2 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵
3 2 4 𝑧 5
1 −1 3 𝑥 3
Where 𝐴 = 2 3 1 , 𝑋 = 𝑦 , 𝐵 = 2
3 2 4 𝑧 5
1 −1 3
Let 𝐷 = 𝐴 = 2 3 1 = 1 12 − 2 + 1 8 − 3 + 3 4 − 9 = 0.
3 2 4

3 −1 3
𝐷𝑥 = 2 3 1 = 3 12 − 2 + 1 8 − 5 + 3 4 − 15 = 0
5 2 4

1 3 3
𝐷𝑦 = 2 2 1 = 1 8 − 5 − 3 8 − 3 + 3 10 − 6 = 0
3 5 4
1 −1 3
𝐷𝑧 = 2 3 2 = 1 15 − 4 + 1 10 − 6 + 3 4 − 9 = 0
3 2 5
Since 𝐷 = 0 and 𝐷𝑥 = 𝐷𝑦 = 𝐷𝑧 = 0

So, the given system is consistent and has infinitely many solutions.

From equations (1) and (2):

𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3 − 3𝑧 (4)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 2 − 𝑧 (5)
Solving equations (4) and (5), we get:

1
𝑥 = 11 − 10𝑧
5
1
𝑦 = 5𝑧 − 5
5
For different values of 𝑧, we get different values of x and y.

So, the system has infinitely many solutions.

Solution of Homogeneous System of Equations:

(Cramer’s Rule)
Let us consider the following system of equations:
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 + 𝑐1 𝑧 = 0 (1)
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑐2 𝑧 = 0 (2)
𝑎3 𝑥 + 𝑏3 𝑦 + 𝑐3 𝑧 = 0 (3)
The given system can be written as:

𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑥 0
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 𝑦 = 0 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 0
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝑧 0
𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1 𝑥 0
Where A = 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2 , X = 𝑦 , 0 = 0
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3 𝑧 0

𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑐1
𝐴 = 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐2
𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑐3

Case 1. If 𝐴 ≠ 𝑂 (Non-singular matrix), the given system of equations has

trivial (Zero/unique) solution ( 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑧 = 0).

Case 2. If 𝐴 = 0 (Singular matrix), the given system of equations has non-

trivial (non-Zero/infinitely many) solutions.
Problem 1. Solve the following system of homogeneous equations:
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 0 (1)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 0 (2)
4𝑥 + 7𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 0 (3)
Solution. The given system can be written as:

1 2 3 𝑥 0
2 3 −2 𝑦 = 0 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝑂
4 7 4 𝑧 0

1 2 3 𝑥 0
Where 𝐴 = 2 3 −2 , 𝑋 = 𝑦 , O= 0
4 7 4 𝑧 0
1 2 3
𝐴 = 2 3 −2 = 1 12 + 14 − 2 8 + 8 + 3 14 − 12 = 0.
4 7 4
So, the given system has non-trivial (infinitely many) solutions.

From equations (1) and (2):

𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −3𝑧 (4)
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 2𝑧 (5)

Solving these, we get 𝑥 = 13𝑧, 𝑦 = −8𝑧

For different values of 𝑧, we get different values of x and y.

So, the system has non-trivial (infinitely many) solutions.

Problem 2. Solve the following system of homogeneous equations:
𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 0 (1)
𝑥+𝑦−𝑧 =0 (2)
𝑥−𝑦+𝑧 =0 (3)
Solution. The given system can be written as:

1 2 −3 𝑥 0
1 1 −1 𝑦 = 0 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝑂
1 −1 1 𝑧 0

1 2 −3 𝑥 0
Where 𝐴 = 1 1 −1 , 𝑋 = 𝑦 , O= 0
1 −1 1 𝑧 0
1 2 −3
𝐴 = 1 1 −1 = 1 1 − 1 − 2 1 + 1 − 3 −1 − 1 = 2 ≠ 0.
1 −1 1
So, the given system has trivial (zero) solution that is
𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑧 = 0.
Problem 3. Determine the values of 𝑘 for which the system of equations:
𝑥 − 𝑘𝑦 + 𝑧 = 0 (1)
𝑘𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 𝑘𝑧 = 0 (2)
3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 0 (3)
has (I) Only trivial solution (II) Non-trivial solution
Solution. The given system can be written as:

1 −𝑘 1 𝑥 0
𝑘 3 −𝑘 𝑦 = 0 that is 𝐴𝑋 = 𝑂
3 1 −1 𝑧 0
1 −𝑘 1 𝑥 0
Where 𝐴 = 𝑘 3 −𝑘 , 𝑋 = 𝑦 , O= 0
3 1 −1 𝑧 0
1 −𝑘 1
𝐴 = 𝑘 3 −𝑘 = 1 −3 + 𝑘 + 𝑘 −𝑘 + 3𝑘 + 1 𝑘 − 9 .
3 1 −1
𝐴 = 2𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 − 12

(I) For trivial solution: 𝐴 ≠ 0

⟹ 2𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 − 12 ≠ 0 ⟹ 𝑘 ≠ 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 ≠ −3

(II) For non-trivial solution: 𝐴 = 0

⟹ 2𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 − 12 = 0 ⟹ 𝑘 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑘 = −3