HOW TO REDUCE A MATRIX

Legal Row Operations:

1) Interchange 2 rows of the matrix
2) Multiple every entry in a row by a constant.
3) Multiply every entry in a row by a constant, then add that row to another row.
Note: Use operations 1)and 2) To create ones in a matrix. Use operation 3) to create zeros.

1 2 3
1 0 a
Example 1. Reduce
Your
goal
is
to
transform
it
to

0 1 b
4 5 6

Since there is already a 1 in the upper left corner, the next step is to create a zero where the 4 is.
Multiply every entry in row 1 by -4 and add those products to row 2.
3
1 2
Now the matrix should look like this:
The next step is to create a 1 where the -3 is.
0 3 6
Step 2: Multiple each entry in row 2 by -1/3.
1 2 3
Now the matrix looks like this:
Finally, create a zero right above the 1 in row 2.
0 1 2
1 0 1
Step 3: Multiple every entry in row 2 by -2 and add those products to row 1 :

0 1 2
______________________________________________________________________________
1 2 3 9
1 0 0 a

Example 2: Reduce 1 3 0 4
Your goal is to transform it to 0 1 0 b
2 5 5 17
0 0 1 c
R1 + R2 R2

2 R1 + R3 R3

1 2 3 9
1 3 0 4

2 5 5 17

1 2 3 9
0 1 3 13

2 5 5 17

9
1 2 3
0 1
3 13

0 1 1 1

1 R3 R3
2
1 0 9 35
0 1 3 13

0 0 2 12

3 R3 + R2 R2

9 R3 + R1 R1

1 0 9 35
0 1 3 13

0 0 1 6

1 0 9 35
0 1 0 5

0 0 1 6

2 R2 + R1 R1

R2 + R3 R3

9 35
1 0
0 1
3 13

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 19
0 1 0 5

0 0 1
6