UNIT – 1 Linear Algebra

LECTURE-5
SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATION
AND ITS CONSISTENCY
 SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS:
A system of m equations in n variables:
a11 x1  a12 x2  a12 x3   a1n xn  b1
a21 x1  a22 x2  a23 x3   a2 n xn  b2
a31 x1  a32 x2  a33 x3   a3n xn  b3

am1 x1  am 2 x2  am3 x3   amn xn  bm

Matrix form: Ax  b
 a11 a12 a13 a1n 
a   x1   b1 
 21 a22 a23 a2 n     
 x2   b2 
 a31 a32 a33 a3n  
    
   x  b 
 am1 am 2 am3 amn   n   m 
Coefficient matrix
 a11 a12 a13 a1n 
a a22 a23 a2 n 
 21
 a31 a32 a33 a3n   A
 
 
 am1 am 2 am3 amn 
Augmented matrix: the matrix containing both the coefficient matrix and the
constant-term vector of a system of linear equations

 a11 a12 a13 a1n b1 

a a22 a23 a2 n b2 
 21
C   A, B    a31 a32 a33 a3n b3   [ A b]
 
 
 am1 am 2 am3 amn bm 
 NON-HOMOGENOUS & HOMOGENOUS SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS
A non-homogeneous system of equations is a system in which the vector of constants
on the right-hand side of the equals sign is non-zero.

A linear system of equations AX = B is called homogeneous if B = 0, and non-

homogeneous if B ≠ 0
i.e
If AX = B, (B = 0), then system is called homogenous system.

If AX = B, (B ≠ 0), then system is called non-homogenous system.

CONSISTENCY OF SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATION
TYPES OF LINEAR EQUATIONS:
(1) Consistent: A system of equations is said to be consistent, if they have one or more solution
i.e.
x  2y  4 x  2y  4
3x  2 y  2 3 x  6 y  12
Unique solution Infinite solutions

(2) Inconsistent: If system of equations has no solution, it is said to be inconsistent

x  2y  4
i.e.
3x  6 y  5
AX = B, (B ≠ 0)
 METHODOLGY
(a)Consistent equations.
If Rank A= Rank C
(i) Unique solution: Rank A= Rank C=n, where n = number of unknowns
(ii) Infinite solution: Rank A= Rank C=r, r<n

(b)Inconsistent equations. Rank A  Rank C

 Solutions of Linear Systems

If the augmented matrix of a linear system has been changed into the equivalent
reduced echelon form
There are three variables because the augmented matrix has four columns. The
associated system of equations is

The variables x1 and x2 corresponding to pivot columns in the matrix are called basic
variables. 2 The other variable, x3, is called a free variable

If a linear system is consistent, then the solution set contains either (i) a unique solution,
when there are no free variables, or (ii) infinitely many solutions, when there is at least
one free variable.
Example: Using the matrix method , show that the equations
3x+3y+2z=1, x+2y=4, 10y+3z=-2 and 2x-3y-z=5 are consistent and
hence obtain the solutions for x,y,z.
Solution: The given equation can be written in matrix form as

3 3 2 1 
1 2 0 4 
The augmented matrix C   A, B    
 0 10 3 2 
 2 3 1 5 
 
R R
1 2

1 2 0 4
3 3 2 1 
 
 0 10 3 2 
 2 3 1 5 
 
cont...
1 2 0 4
3 3 2 1
 
0 10 3 2 
2 3 1 5 


R  R  3R R  R  2 R
2 2 1, 4 4 1,

1 2 0 4
0 3 2 11 
 
0 10 3 2 
0 7 1 3

 10 7
R R
3 3
 2,
R R R  R
4 4 2,
3 3
1 2 0 4 
0 3 2 11 
 
~ 0 0
29

116 
 3 3 
 
0 17 68 
0 
 3 3 
 3 3
R 
3
R 3,
R 4
 R4,
39 17 1 2 0 4 
0 11 
1 2 0 4  
3 2

0 3 ~ 0 116 
11
29
 0 
2 3 3 
~  
0 
17 68 


0 0 1 4  
0
3 3 
0 0 4 
 1

R R R
4 4 3

1 2 0 4 
0 3 2 11
Echelon form

~ 
0 0 1 4   Rank (C) =3, Also R(A)=3
0 
 0 0 0 
 Row reduced Echelon form
1
R 
2
R 2
3
1 2 0 4 
 2 11 
0 1 
~  3 3 
0 0 1 4 
 
0 0 0 0 
R  R  2R , 2 4
1 1 2
R  R  R ,R  R  R
10 
2 2 3 1 1 3

1 4 3 3
 0
3 3  1 0 0 2 
  0 1 0 1 
2 11 
~ 0 1 ~ 
 3 3  0 0 1 4 
0 4 

0 1
 0 0 0 0 
 

0 0 0 0 
Hence the given system is consistent with unique solution.
1 2 0  4 
0 3   x  
2   11
  y  
0 0 1     4 
0 0   z   
 0  0 
 x  2 y  4 ...(1)  3x  2 z  11 ...(2) and z  4

From (2), 3 y  2  (4)  11  y  1

From (1), x  2

Hence, x=2, y=1 and z=-4

 EXAMPLE:
Do the three planes
x1 + 2x2 + 2x3 = 5 , x2 - 2x3 = 1, 2x1 + 6x2 = 6,
have at least one common point of inter- section? Explain.

We can solve this system by converting it into an augmented matrix and

performing row reduction. Here is the augmented matrix:

1 2 2 5  Using row reduction operations, we can transform

 0 1 2 1  the augmented matrix into row-echelon form or
  reduced row-echelon form to determine if the system
 2 6 0 6  is consistent and if it has a solution.
Performing row reduction on the augmented matrix:
[R3 - R3 - 2R1] 1 2 2 5 
0 1 2 1 
 
0 2 4 4 
 Three planes A, B,
and C intersect at a
1 2 2 5  single point P.
P corresponds to a
[R3 ->R3 - 2R1]
0 1 2 1  unique solution.
 
0 0 0 6 
Planes A, B, and C
have no points in
common.
[R3 1/ -6] 1 2 2 5 There is no solution

0 1 2 1 
  Three planes A, B,
0 0 0 1  and C intersect in a
line PQ. Any point on
the line is a solution.

However, the last row of the augmented matrix [0 0 0| 1] implies that the equation 0
x1 + 0 x2 +0 x3 = 1 is inconsistent. This means that the system does not have a
solution, and the three planes represented by the equations do not intersect at a
common point.

Therefore, the correct answer is B. The three planes do not have a common point of
intersection.
 Cramer’s Rule

Method of determinants –Cramer’s* Rule

 Cramer’s Rule

Method of determinants –Cramer’s* Rule

AX = B, (B = 0)
 METHODOLGY

This system is always Consistent

(i) Trival solution: Rank A= n, where n = number of
unknowns

(ii) Infinite non-trival solution: Rank A < n,

Homogeneous systems of linear equations
A system of linear equations is said to be homogeneous if all the constant terms are zero
a11 x1  a12 x2  a13 x3   a1n xn  0
a21 x1  a22 x2  a23 x3   a2 n xn  0
a31 x1  a32 x2  a33 x3   a3n xn  0

am1 x1  am 2 x2  am3 x3   amn xn  0

OR AX=0

For a system of Homogeneous linear equations AX=0

(i)X=0 is always a solution. This solution in which each unknown has the value zero is
called the Null Solution or the Trivial Solution. Thus a homogeneous system is always
consistent.
A system of homogeneous linear equation has either the trivial solution or an infinite
number of solutions.
1. If R (A)= Number of unknowns, the system has only the trivial solution.
2. If R (A)< Number of unknowns, the system has an infinite number of non-trivial
solutions.

Example: find the value of k such that the system of equations x  ky  3z  0,

4 x  3 y  kz  0 , 2 x  y  2 z  0 has non-trivial solution.
Solution: the set of equation can be written in the form of matrices

1 k 3   x  0 1 k 3 0 
 4 3 k   y   0 , 
AX=B, C= (A, B) = 4 3 k 0

      
 2 1 2   z  0  2 1 2 0
On interchanging fist and third row we have
2 1 2 0
  1
~ 4 3 k 0 , R2  R2  2 R1, R3  R3  R1
  2
1 k 3 0 
 
2 1 2 0  1
 
k  4 0
R3  R3   k   R2
0 1
 2
 1 
0 k  2 0
 2 
 
2 1 2 0
~ 
0 1 k 4 0
 
 1 
0 0 2   k    k  4  0
  2 
For a non-trivial solution or for infinite solution, R(A) = R(C)=2
So
1 k
2- (k- )(k-4)=0,  2-k  4k   2  0
2

2 2
9 9
  k  k  0, k  , k  0
2

2 2
On interchanging fist and third row we have
R2  R2  4R1 , R3  R3  2R1,
1 k 3   x  0
 4 3 k   y   0
     For a non-trivial solution or for infinite
 2 1 2   z  0 
solution
1 k 3 
 ( A)  2
~ 0 3  4k k  12 
  (2k 2  9 k)  0
0 1  2k 4 
9
R2  R2  2 R2  k  0, k 
2
1 k 3 
~ 0 1 k  4
 
0 1  2k 4 
R3  R3  (1  2k ) R2
1 k 3 
~ 0 1 k 4 
 
0 0 (2k  9 k) 
2
Example: Solve the following three systems of linear equations, all of which have the same matrix
of coefficients
EXAMPLE:
A general solution is: In vector equation form, the solution is:
x1 = -3x3 +4, x1 −3 4
x2 = −2x3 +1, x2 = x3 −2 + 1
x3 = x3, x3 1 0
Question: What is the solution set?
x1 −3 4
x2
=
x3 −2 + 1 | x3∈ ℝ
x 1 0
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1.Solve the system of linear equations:
x+y+z=6
3x – 2y – z = 4
2x + 3y – 2z = 2
2.Solve the following system of linear equations using Reduced Row Echelon Form
3x + 5y + 6z = 7 3x + 5y + 6z = 0
x + 3y – 2z = 5 & x + 3y – 2z = 0
2x + 4y + 3z = 8 2x + 4y + 3z = 0

1.Solve: 3x – y + 14z = 7; 2x + 2y + 3z = 0; x – 12y – 18z = 33

2.Examine the system of equation for consistency and Type of solution

Ans: Rank Of A=Rank of C=2< n<3,Hence the system is consistent and has infinitely many solution.
1.Solve the system
4x1 + 8x2 - 12x3 = 44
3x1 + 6x2 - 8x3 = 32
-2x1 - x2 =-7
Ans: x1=2, x2 =3 , x3 =-1