THEOREM

If the number of equations is greater than or equal to the number of variables

in a linear system, then one of the following is true:
1) The system has no solution.
2) The system has exactly one solution
3) The system has infinitely many solutions.
Example 1: Equal number of equations and variables but system has no
solution

'

+ +

+ +
1 5 5
4 3
1
z y x
z y x
z y x

1
1
1
]
1

1
4
1
5 5 1
1 1 3
1 1 1
----PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS---->
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
0 0 0
4 4 0
1 1 1
Observe in the third row of the final augmented matrix: 0 = -1!
Therefore, we conclude that the system is inconsistent and has no solution.
Example 2: Equal number of equations and variables and has many solutions

'

+

+
3 5 3 2
1 2 3
2 3 2
z y x
z y x
z y x

1
1
1
]
1

3
1
2
5 3 2
2 1 3
3 2 1
---PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS--->
1
1
1
]
1

0
1
0
0 0 0
1 1 0
1 0 1
From the last augmented matrix, we will get a new system of x z = 0 and y
z = -1. We can assign any real number to either x or z. Thus, there will be
many sets of x, y and z values.
Therefore, we conclude that the system has infinitely many solutions.
Example 3: More equations than variables but system has no solution

'

+

+
12 3 4
0 2
4 2
y x
y x
y x

1
1
1
]
1

12
0
4
3 4
2 1
2 1
----PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS---->
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
2
0 0
1 0
0 1
Observe in the third row of the final augmented matrix: 0 = -1!
Therefore, we conclude that the system has no solution.
THEOREM
If there are fewer equations than variables in a linear system, then the system
either has no solution or it has infinitely many solutions.
Example 4: Fewer equations than variables and has many solutions

'

+ +

+ +
3 5 3 2
1 4 2 3
2 3 2
w z y x
w z y x
w z y x

1
1
1
]
1

3
1
2
1 5 3 2
4 2 1 3
1 3 2 1
--PERFORM ROW OPERATIONS-->
1
1
1
]
1

0
1
0
0 0 0 0
1 1 1 0
1 1 0 1
From the last augmented matrix, we will get a new system:

'

+

1
0
w z y
w z x
We can assign any real number to either x or z. Thus, there will be many sets
of w, x, y and z values. Therefore, we conclude that the system has infinitely
many solutions.