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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Linear Equations
Consider the system of linear equations:
Which of the following expresses the solution set in parametric form?
None of the other choices gives the correct response.
First, write the matrix of coefficients for the system, seen below:
It is necessary to convert this matrix to reduced row-echelon form as follows:
The first step is usually to get a leading "1" in the first row; however, one is already there.
The next step is to get a "0" in the first position of the second row by multiplying the first row by the additive inverse of the number already there, and adding it to that row. Therefore, perform the operation
:
or
The next step is usually to get a leading "1" in the second row; however, one is already there.
The next step is to get a "0" in the second position of the first row by multiplying the first row by the additive inverse of the number already there, and adding it to that row. Therefore, perform the operation:
The matrix is now in reduced row-echelon form - all leading nonzero elements are "1", and go from upper-left to lower-right, and there are no zero rows. This matrix translates as the linear equations
To state the solution set parametrically, rewrite:
Set ; the parametric form of the solution set is
.
Example Question #91 : Linear Equations
Consider the system of linear equations:
Which of the following gives its complete solution set (in parametric form, if applicable) or its only solution?
First, write the matrix of coefficients for the system, seen below:
It is necessary to convert this matrix to reduced row-echelon form as follows:
The first step is usually to get a leading "1" in the first row; however, one is already there.
The next two steps, which can be performed simultaneously, is to get a "0" in the first position of the second and third rows by multiplying the first row by the additive inverse of the number already there, and adding it to that row. Therefore, perform the operations
and
The next step is to get a leading "1" in the second rowby multiplying each entry in that row by the multiplicative inverse of the number already there; therefore, perform the operation
The next two steps, which can be performed simultaneously, is to get a "0" in the second position of the first and third rows by multiplying the first row by the additive inverse of the number already there, and adding it to that row. Therefore, perform the operations
and
The matrix is now in reduced row-echelon form - all leading nonzero elements are "1", and go from upper-left to lower-right, and there are no zero rows. This matrix translates as the linear equations
To state the solution set parametrically, rewrite:
Set ; the parametric form of the solution set is
.
Example Question #92 : Linear Equations
Solve the following system by reducing its corresponding matrix.
None of these
and is a free variable.
and is a free variable.
and is a free variable.
and is a free variable.
The corresponding matrix is
We add times row one to row two.
This yields the solution
or
and is a free variable.