Elementary Transformations Example.

• The following operations w.r.t. a matrix are known as • Using elementary transformations reduce
elementary transformations. the matrix A first to upper triangular
• Interchange of any two ROWS, indicated by Rij or by
Ri ↔ Rj • and then to identity matrix where
⎡2 5 7⎤
• Multiplication of elements of any ROW by a non-zero A = ⎢1 2 3 ⎥
real number, indicated by Ri →kRi ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ 3 1 2 ⎥⎦
• Addition of the constant multiple of jth ROW to ith ROW
indicated by Ri → Ri + kRj
⎡2 5 7⎤
• Similar COLUMN transformation are denoted by Solution: ⎢ 1 2 3 ⎥⎥
⎢
• Cij , kCi, Ci + kCj ⎢⎣ 3 1 2 ⎥⎦

Solution: ⎡1 2 3⎤ Solution:
⎡1 0 0⎤
Operating R1 ↔ R2 A = ⎢2 7 ⎥⎥ •Operating C2 → C2-2C1, ⎢ 1 ⎥⎥
• 5
⎢ A~ 0 1
⎢⎣ 3 1 2 ⎥⎦ C3 → C3-3C1 ⎢
⎢⎣ 0 0 − 2 ⎥⎦
Operating R2 → R2-2R1, ⎡1 2 3⎤
•
⎢ ⎡1 0 0⎤
1 ⎥⎥ A~ ⎢ 0
A~ ⎢ 0 •Operating C3 → C3-C2
0 ⎥⎥
1
and R3 →R3-3R1 1
⎢⎣ 0 −5 − 7 ⎥⎦ ⎢
⎢⎣ 0 0 − 2 ⎥⎦
⎡1 2 3⎤
⎡1 0 0⎤
⎢ 1 ⎥⎥
• Operating R3→ R3 +5R2 A~ ⎢ 0 1
•Operating C3 → C3 / (-2) A~ ⎢ 0 1 0 ⎥⎥
⎢⎣ 0 0 − 2 ⎥⎦ ⎢
⎢⎣ 0 0 1 ⎥⎦
(Upper Triangular Form) (Identity matrix)

⎡2 3 −1 −1⎤
• Definition: Two matrices A and B are said to be • SOLUTIONS ⎢1
⎢ −1 −2 −4⎥⎥
equivalent, if one can be obtained from another by a • (1) Let A = ⎢3 1 3 −2⎥
sequence of elementary transformations and the same is ⎢ ⎥
−7⎦
⎣6 3 0
symbolically written as A~B.
⎡1 −1 −2 −4⎤
• Example: Using elementary transformations find the ⎢2 3 −1 −1⎥⎥
ranks of the following matrices ⎢
• Operating R12 ⎢3 1 3 −2⎥
(1) ⎡2 3 −1 −1⎤ (2) ⎡ 1 2 3 ⎤ (3) ⎡ 1 2 1 0⎤ ⎢ ⎥
⎢1 −1 −2 −4⎥ ⎢ −2 4 3 0 ⎥⎥ ⎣6 3 0 −7⎦
⎢2 4 7 ⎥ ⎢
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎡1 −1 −2 −4⎤
⎢3 1 3 −2⎥ ⎢⎣ 1 0 2 − 8 ⎥⎦
⎢ ⎥ ⎣⎢ 3 6 10 ⎦⎥ • Operating R2→ R2 -2R1, ⎢0
⎢ 5 3 7 ⎥⎥
⎣6 3 0 −7⎦
(5) ⎡ 9 1 9 2 9 3 9 4 9 5 ⎤ R3 → R3-3R1, R4 → R4-6R1 ⎢0 4 9 10⎥
⎢ ⎥
(4) ⎡ 1 4 3 − 2 1 ⎤ ⎢ ⎥ ⎣0 9 12 17⎦
⎢−2 −3 −1 9 3 ⎥ ⎢92 93 94 95 96 ⎥
⎡1 −1 −2 −4 ⎤
⎢ ⎥
⎢ −1 6 7 12 9 ⎥
⎢93 94 95 96 97 ⎥ • Operating R2→ R2 -R3, ⎢ 0 1 −6 −3⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢
⎢ ⎥ ⎣94 95 96 97 98 ⎦ ⎢0 4 9 10 ⎥
⎣−3 3 6 21 12⎦ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 0 9 12 17 ⎦

1
 ⎡1 −1 −2 −4 ⎤ • (2) ⎡1 2 3⎤
• Operating R3 → R3-4R2 , ⎢0 1 −6 −3⎥⎥ B = ⎢⎢ 2 4 7 ⎥⎥
⎢
R4→ R4-9R2 ⎢0 0 33 22 ⎥ ⎢⎣ 3 6 10 ⎥⎦
⎢ ⎥
⎣0 0 66 44 ⎦
• Operating R2→R2 -2R1, ⎡1 2 3⎤
⎡1 −1 −2 −4 ⎤ B ~⎢ 0 1 ⎥⎥
• Operating , R4 → R4-2R3 A ~ ⎢0 1 −6 −3⎥ R3→R3-3R1 ⎢ 0
⎢ ⎥ ⎢⎣ 0 0 1 ⎥⎦
⎢0 0 33 22 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ • Though the matrix is in Upper Triangular Form
⎣0 0 0 0 ⎦
• we observe that R2 and R3 are identical.
• Observe that the matrix is in UPPER TRIANGULAR FORM
⎡1 2 3 ⎤
• The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows
• Operating R3 →R3-R2 B ~ ⎢⎢ 0 0 1 ⎥⎥
• ρ(A) = 3 ⎢⎣ 0 0 0 ⎥⎦

•This form of the matrix where,

•(3) Reduce to row -echelon
⎡1 2 1 0⎤
⎢ 3 0 ⎥⎥
•(i) First non-zero entry (or element) in every non-zero form and find rank of C for, C = ⎢ − 2 4
row is ‘UNITY’ or can be made unity. ⎢⎣ 1 0 2 − 8 ⎥⎦

•(ii) Elements in the column below these ‘above ⎡1 2 1 0⎤

mentioned’ UNITIES are zeroes Or the number of •Operating R2→ R2+2R1, ⎢
C~ 0 8 5 0 ⎥⎥
zeroes before the non-zero element increases with row
R3→ R3-R1
⎢
number. ⎢⎣ 0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥⎦
•(iii) All the zero rows are below the non-zero rows
⎡1 2 1 0⎤
• is known as ROW ECHELON FORM
• Operating R23 C ~ ⎢0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥⎥
⎢
•The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows ⎢⎣ 0 8 5 0 ⎥⎦
• ρ(A) = 2

⎡ 1 4 3 −2 1 ⎤
⎡1 2 1 0 ⎤ •(4) ⎢
•Operating R3 →R3+4R2 C ~ ⎢ − 3 − 1 9 3 ⎥⎥
⎥ C =⎢−2
⎢ 0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥ ⎢−1 6 7 12 9 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣⎢ 0 0 9 0 ⎦⎥ ⎣−3 3 6 21 12⎦
⎡ 1 0 0 0 0 ⎤⎥
C2
C~ ⎢
⎡1 −1 1 0 ⎤ • Operating C2 → C2-4C1, ⎢
⎢−2
1 1 − 8 ⎥⎥
•Operating 5 5 5 5⎥
(−2) ⎢0 C3 → C3-3C1 , C4→ C4+2C1, C~ ⎢
⎢ −1 10 10 10 10 ⎥
⎥

⎣⎢ 0 0 9 0 ⎥⎦ C5 → C5 - C1 ⎢
⎣⎢ − 3
⎥
15 15 15 15 ⎦⎥
⎡1 −1 1 0 ⎤ ⎡ 1 0 0 0 0⎤
•Operating R3 ⎢
9 C ~ ⎢⎢ 0 1 1 − 8 ⎥⎥ • Operating C3→ C3 -C2, −2 5 0 0 0 ⎥⎥
C ~⎢
⎢⎣ 0 0 1 0 ⎥⎦ C4→ C4 -C2, C5→ C5 -C2 ⎢ −1 10 0 0 0⎥
This is in Row- echelon form. ⎢ ⎥
⎣ −3 15 0 0 0⎦
•The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows Lower Triangular form
• The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero columns
• ∴ ρ(A) = 3
∴ ρ(A) = 2

2
 ⎡91 92 93 94 95 ⎤ ⎡1 1 1 1 1 ⎤
•(5)
Find the rank by reducing ⎢92 93 94 95 96 ⎥ •Operating R2 → R2 -91R1,
⎢0 1 2 3 4 ⎥⎥
the following matrix : D =⎢ ⎥ R3 → R3 -2R1, D~ ⎢
⎢93 94 95 96 97 ⎥ ⎢0 0 0 0 0 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ R4 → R4 -3R1 ⎢ ⎥
⎣94 95 96 97 98 ⎦ ⎣0 0 0 0 0 ⎦
⎡ 91 92 93 94 95 ⎤
•Operating R2→R2 -R1, ⎢1 1 1 1 1 ⎥
R3→R3 -R1 , D~ ⎢ ⎥
⎢2 2 2 2 2 ⎥
R4→R4 -R1 ⎢ ⎥ This is in Row- echelon form.
⎣3 3 3 3 3 ⎦
•The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows
⎡1 1 1 1 1 ⎤
⎢ 91 92 93 94 95 ⎥ • ρ(A) = 2
•Operating R12 D~ ⎢ ⎥
⎢2 2 2 2 2 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣3 3 3 3 3 ⎦

⎡1 2 1 0⎤ ⎡1 2 1 0 ⎤
•(3) Reduce to row -echelon ⎢ •Operating R3 →R3+4R2 C ~ ⎢
form and find rank of C for, C = ⎢ − 2 4 3 0 ⎥⎥ ⎢0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥⎥
⎢⎣ 1 0 2 − 8 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 0 0 9 0 ⎥⎦

C2 ⎡1 −1 1 0 ⎤
C~ ⎢
⎡1 1 0⎤ 1 1 − 8 ⎥⎥
2 •Operating
(−2) 0
⎢
•Operating R2→ R2+2R1, ⎢
C~ 0 8 5 0 ⎥⎥ ⎢⎣ 0 0 9 0 ⎥⎦
R3→ R3-R1
⎢
⎢⎣ 0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥⎦ ⎡1 −1 1 0 ⎤
•Operating R3
9 C ~ ⎢⎢ 0 1 1 − 8 ⎥⎥

⎡1 1 0⎤ ⎣⎢ 0 0 1 0 ⎥⎦
2 This is in Row- echelon form.
• Operating R23 C ~ ⎢0 −2 1 − 8 ⎥⎥
⎢ •The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows
⎢⎣ 0 8 5 0 ⎥⎦
• ∴ ρ(A) = 3

⎡ 1 4 3 −2 1 ⎤ ⎡91 92 93 94 95 ⎤
•(4) ⎢ •(5)
− 3 − 1 9 3 ⎥⎥ Find the rank of ⎢92 9 3 9 4 9 5 9 6 ⎥⎥
C =⎢−2
⎢−1 6 7 12 9 ⎥ the following matrix : D =⎢
⎢ ⎥ ⎢93 94 95 96 97 ⎥
⎣−3 3 6 21 12⎦ ⎢ ⎥
⎡ 1 0 0 0 0 ⎤⎥ ⎣94 95 96 97 98 ⎦
• Operating C2 → C2-4C1, ⎢
⎢−2 5 5 5 5⎥ ⎡ 91 92 93 94 95 ⎤
C3 → C3-3C1 , C4→ C4+2C1, C~ ⎢
⎢ −1 10 10 10 10 ⎥
⎥
•Operating R2→R2 -R1, ⎢1 1 1 1 1 ⎥
C5 → C5 - C1 ⎢
⎣⎢ − 3
⎥
15 15 15 15 ⎦⎥ R3→R3 -R1 , D~ ⎢ ⎥
⎢2 2 2 2 2 ⎥
⎡ 1 0 0 0 0⎤
R4→R4 -R1 ⎢ ⎥
• Operating C3→ C3 -C2, ⎢ −2 5 0 0 0 ⎥⎥ ⎣3 3 3 3 3 ⎦
C ~⎢
C4→ C4 -C2, C5→ C5 -C2 ⎢ −1 10 0 0 0⎥ ⎡1 1 1 1 1 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ 91 92 93 94 95 ⎥
⎣ −3 15 0 0 0⎦
Lower Triangular form •Operating R12 D~ ⎢ ⎥
⎢2 2 2 2 2 ⎥
• The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero columns ⎢ ⎥
⎣3 3 3 3 3 ⎦
∴ ρ(A) = 2

3
•Operating R2 → R2 -91R1, ⎡1 1 1 1 1 ⎤ CONSISTENCY OF SYSTEM OF
⎢0 1 2 3 4 ⎥⎥
R3 → R3 -2R1, D~ ⎢ SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATIONS
⎢0 0 0 0 0 ⎥
R4 → R4 -3R1 ⎢ ⎥ Consider the following set of Linear equations.
⎣0 0 0 0 0 ⎦
a11 x1 + a12 x 2 + a13 x 3 + . . . + a1n xn = b1
a 21 x1 + a 22 x 2 + a 23 x 3 + . . . + a 2n xn = b 2
This is in Row- echelon form.
.... .... .... .... ....
•The rank of the matrix = the number of non zero rows
.... .... .... .... ....
• ρ(A) = 2
.... .... .... .... ....
am1 x1 + am 2 x 2 + am 3 x 3 + . . . + amn xn = bm

From the knowledge of matrix multiplication, where ⎡a a a .... .... a ⎤

11 12 13 1n
this can be written in matrix form ⎢ ⎥
⎢a 21 a 22 a 23 .... .... a 2n ⎥
⎡ a11 a12 a13 .... .... a1n ⎤ ⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥
⎡ x1 ⎤ ⎡ b1 ⎤ A=⎢ ⎥ ,
⎢ ⎥ ⎢x ⎥ ⎢ b ⎥ ⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥
⎢a 21 a 22 a 23 .... .... a 2n ⎥
⎢ 2⎥ ⎢ 2 ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥ ⎢ x3 ⎥ ⎢ b3 ⎥ ⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢an1 an 2 an 3 .... .... ann ⎥⎦
⎢ ⎥=⎢ ⎥ ⎣
⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥ ⎢ ... ⎥ ⎢... ⎥ ⎡ x1 ⎤ ⎡ b1 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ... ⎥ ⎢ ... ⎥ ⎢x ⎥ ⎢b ⎥
⎢ .... .... .... .... .... .... ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ 2⎥
2

⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢x3 ⎥ ⎢b ⎥
⎢am1 am 2 am 3 .... .... amn ⎥⎦ ⎣⎢ xn ⎦⎥ ⎣⎢bm ⎦⎥ X = ⎢ ⎥ , and D = ⎢ 2 ⎥
⎣ ⎢ ⎥... ⎢... ⎥
⎢ ... ⎥ ⎢ ... ⎥
i.e., AX = D ⎢ ⎥
⎣⎢ xn ⎦⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣b n ⎥⎦

and
• Here A is called coefficient matrix, X is C = [ A | D]
called variable vector and D is called
Right hand side column vector.
⎡ a11 a12 . . . a1n b1 ⎤
• If D = 0 i.e. b1, b2,…, bm = 0 then the ⎢a ⎥
matrix equation becomes A X = 0, ⎢ 21 a22 . . . a2 n b2 ⎥
which is called a system of = ⎢ ....................... ⎥
HOMOGENEOUS linear equations. ⎢ ⎥
⎢ ....................... ⎥
• If D ≠ 0 then the system A X = D is ⎢am1 am 2 . . . am n bm ⎥
called a system of ⎣ ⎦
NON-HOMOGENEOUS linear equations.
is called the AUGMENTED MATRIX.

4
 • To solve a non-homogeneous system
of linear equations:
• First, we calculate the rank of
Augmented Matrix D.
¾If ρ[A | D] = ρ(A) = n (number of
variables) the system will be consistent
and will have UNIQUE solution.
¾If ρ[A | D] = ρ(A) < n (number of
variables) the system will be consistent
but will have infinite number of
solutions
¾If ρ[A | D] ≠ ρ(A) the system will have NO
solution i.e. the system will be
INCONSISTENT.
• After checking above three conditions if
the system is consistent
• then its solution is calculated by, again
converting the Upper triangular /
Echelon form of the Augmented Matrix D
(from which rank was found) into linear
equations and solving it.

Example 1 Test the consistency and solve Here ⎡ 1 − 2 3⎤ ⎡ x⎤ ⎡8⎤

A = ⎢ 2 − 3 0⎥ X = ⎢ y⎥ D = ⎢− 5⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
x-2y+3z= 8
⎣⎢1 1 1⎦⎥ ⎣⎢ 9 ⎥⎦
2x-3y = -5 ( *) ⎣⎢ z ⎦⎥
x+ y+ z = 9 Then (*) in matrix form is AX = D
Solution:
To test the consistency, we calculate the ⎡1 −2 3 8 ⎤
Augmented matrix of the system (*) ⎢2 −3 0 −5⎥
Consider [A/D]= ⎢ ⎥
And then we find ⎢⎣ 1 1 1 9 ⎥⎦
i) the rank of matrix [A/D]
ii) the rank of matrix A (Augmented matrix)

Operating R2→ R2 -2R1, R3→ R3-R1

(*) and (**) are equivalent system
⎡1 −2 3 8 ⎤
[A/D] ~ ⎢0 1 −6 −21⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 3 −2 1 ⎥⎦ x - 2y + 3z = 8 --------(i)
Operating R3 → R3-3R2 ⎡1 −2 3 8 ⎤ (**) ⇒ y - 6z = -21 --------(ii)
⎢ ⎥ 16z = 64 --------(iii)
[A/D] ~ ⎢ 0 1 −6 −21⎥ (**)
⎢⎣0 0 16 64 ⎥⎦ (iii) z=4
z = 4 in (ii) y=3
⇒ ( ρ(A) = 3 ) = (ρ(A/D) = 3)
y = 3 and z = 4 in (i) x=2
⇒ System of equations (*) are consistent.
( ρ(A) = 3 ) = (ρ(A/D) = 3) = No. of unknowns Answer x = 2, y = 3 and z = 4
⇒ There exists a unique solution of (*)

5
Example 2 ⎡2 1 2 1⎤
Test the consistency and solve ⎢ ⎥ (Augmented
Consider [A/D]= ⎢ 1 2 −1 2 ⎥
2x+y+2z=1 matrix)
x+2y - z=2 ( *) ⎢⎣ 5 4 3 4 ⎥⎦
5x+4y+3z=4 Operating R12 ⎡1 2 −1 2 ⎤
To test the consistency, we calculate the Augmented matrix of the ⎢ ⎥
system (*) And then we find [A/D] ~ ⎢ 2 1 2 1 ⎥
i) the rank of matrix [A/D] ⎢⎣ 5 4 3 4 ⎥⎦
ii) the rank of matrix A
Here Operating R2→ R2 - 2R1, R3 → R3 - 5R1
⎡2 1 2 ⎤ ⎡x⎤ ⎡1 ⎤
⎢1 2 −1⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
D = ⎢ 2⎥ ⎡1 2 −1 2 ⎤
A=⎢ ⎥ X = ⎢y ⎥
⎢
[A/D] ~ 0 −3 4 −3
⎥
⎣⎢ 5 4 3 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ z ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 4 ⎥⎦
⎢ ⎥
Then (*) in matrix form is AX = D ⎢⎣0 −6 8 −6 ⎥⎦

Operating R3 → R3-2R2
x+ 2y - z = 2 --------(i)
(**)
⎡1 2 −1 2 ⎤ -3y+ 4z = -3 --------(ii)
⎢ ⎥
[A/D] ~ ⎢0 −3 4 −3 ⎥ (**) Let z = k be the parameters
⎢⎣0 0 0 0 ⎥⎦
4 5
y = 1+ k x=- k
3
( ρ(A) = 2 ) = (ρ(A/D) = 2) 3
4
System of equations (*) is consistent Answer: x = - 5
k y = 1+ k z=k
3 3
( ρ(A) = 2 ) = (ρ(A/D) = 2) < No.of unknowns=3
For k = 3 x = -5 y = 5 z = 3
There exist infinite solutions of (*) is one particular solution.
(*) and (**) are equivalent system

Example 5. For what values of λ and µ Operating, R3-R2,R1-R2

the following system ⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
[A/D] ~ ⎢
x+y+z=6 0 1 2 4 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
x + 2y + 3z = 10 ⎢0 1 λ −1 µ −6⎥
x + 2y +λ z = µ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦
Operating R3-R2,
will have ⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
⎢0 1 2 4 ⎥
i)Unique solution [A/D] ~ ⎢ ⎥
ii) Infinite solutions ⎢0 0 λ − 3 µ −10⎥
⎡1 1 1 6⎤ ⎢ ⎥
⎢1 ⎣ ⎦
iii)No solution 2 3 10 ⎥
[A/D] ~ ⎢ ⎥ ⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
⎢1 λ µ⎥
[A/D] ~ ⎢0 1 2 4 ⎥
2
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦ ⎢0 1 λ −1 µ −6⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦

6
 System of equations will have i) Infinite solution if ( ρ(A) = 2 ) = (ρ(A/D = 2)

i) Unique solution if ( ρ(A) = 3 ) = (ρ(A/D = 3) < No. of unknowns=3

= No. of unknowns=3 hence λ = 3 and µ = 10

hence λ − 3 ≠ 0 ii) Infinite solution if ( ρ(A) 2 ) ≠(ρ(A/D = 3)

Example 3. Test the consistency and solve Operating R2→ R2 - 3R1, R3→ R3 - 7R1
x-4y+7z=14
⎡1 −4 7 14 ⎤
3x+8y -2 z=13 (*)
7x-8y+26z=5 [A/D] ~ ⎢ 0 2 0 − 2 3 − 2 9 ⎥⎥
⎢
To test the consistency, we calculate the ⎢⎣ 0 2 0 − 2 3 − 9 3 ⎥⎦
Augmented matrix of the system (*) Operating R3 → R3-R2
And then we find ⎡1 −4 7 14 ⎤
i) the rank of matrix [A/D] ⎢ − 2 9 ⎥⎥
[A/D] ~ ⎢ 0 2 0 − 2 3
ii) the rank of matrix A
⎢⎣ 0 0 0 − 6 4 ⎥⎦
⎡1 −4 7 14⎤
⎢ ⎥ ( ρ(A) = 2 ) ≠ (ρ(A/D) = 3)
Consider [A/D]= ⎢ 3 8 − 2 1 3 ⎥
There exists no solution of system of simultaneous
⎣⎢ 7 − 8 2 6 5 ⎥⎦ linear equations(*).

System of Homogeneous Linear which can be written as

Equations ⎡ a11 a12 . . . a1n ⎤ ⎡ x1 ⎤ ⎡ 0 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ x ⎥ ⎢0 ⎥
a11 x1 + a12 x 2 + . . . + a1n xn = 0 ⎢ a a . . . a ⎥
21 22 2n
⎢ 2⎥ ⎢ ⎥
a 21 x1 + a 22 x 2 + . . . + a 2n xn = 0 ⎢ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .⎥ ⎢ . ⎥ = ⎢.⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
........................... ⎢ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .⎥ ⎢ . ⎥ ⎢.⎥
⎢ a ⎥ ⎢⎣ xn ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣0 ⎥⎦
............................ ⎣ m1 am2 . . . amn ⎦
am1 x1 + am2 x 2 + . . . + amn xn = 0

7
 or AX = O
For such a system the ρ [A] is always
equal to ρ [A / D].
Hence a system of Homogeneous linear
equations is always consistent.
There are following cases:
1. If
ρ [A] = n (number of var iables)
i.e | A | ≠ 0 then the system (1) will
have only Zero or Trivial or Unique
Solution.
2. If
ρ [A] < n (number of var iables)
i.e | A | = 0 then the system (1) will
have Non-Zero or Non-Trivial or
Infinite number of Solutions.

Example-1 Solve the system of i.e. AX = O , where the coefficient

equations matrix
x + 3 y − 2z = 0 ⎡1 3 −2 ⎤
2x − y + 4z = 0 A = ⎢ 2 −1 4 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
x − 11y + 14z = 0 ⎢⎣1 −11 14 ⎥⎦
Solution: The given system of equation
can be written as
⎡1 3 −2 ⎤ ⎡ x ⎤ ⎡ 0⎤
⎢ 2 −1 4 ⎥ ⎢ y ⎥ = ⎢ 0 ⎥ Applying R 2 → R 2 − 2R 1 ,
⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ R 3 → R 3 − R1
⎢⎣1 −11 14 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ z ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 0⎥⎦

⎡1 3 −2 ⎤ which is in Echelon form and hence

A ≈ ⎢0 −7 8 ⎥ ρ [A] = 2 < 3 (number of var iables).
⎢ ⎥ Therefore, the given system has non-
⎢⎣0 −14 16 ⎥⎦ trivial solutions.
Applying R 3 → R 3 − 2R 2 Converting last form of A into equations
we get
⎡ 1 3 −2 ⎤ x + 3y − 2z = 0
A ≈ ⎢ 0 −7 8 ⎥ −7y + 8z = 0
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ 0 0 0 ⎥⎦

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On assuming z = k , where k is arbitrary Example-2 Solve the system of
constant and applying back substitution, equations
we find x + 2 y + 3z = 0
8k −10k 3x + 4y + 4z = 0
that y = and x = .
7 7 7x + 10y + 12z = 0
−10k 8k
Thus x = ,y= and z = k are
7 7 Solution: The given system of equation
the solutions of given system. can be written as

⎡1 2 3 ⎤ ⎡ x ⎤ ⎡0⎤ Applying R 2 → R 2 − 3R 1 ,
⎢ 3 4 4 ⎥ ⎢ y ⎥ = ⎢0⎥ R 3 → R 3 − 7R 1
⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎡1 2 3 ⎤
⎢⎣7 10 12 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ z ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 0 ⎥⎦ A ≈ ⎢0 −2 −5 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
i.e. AX = O , where the coefficient ⎢⎣0 −4 9 ⎥⎦
matrix
Applying R 3 → R 3 − 2R 2
⎡1 2 3 ⎤
⎡1 2 3 ⎤
A = ⎢3 4 4 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ A ≈ ⎢0 −2 −5 ⎥
⎢⎣7 10 12 ⎥⎦ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 0 1 ⎥⎦

which is in Echelon form and hence Example-3 For what values of λ and
ρ [A] = 3 = (number of var iables). µ , the following non-homogeneous
Therefore, the given system has trivial or system
zero or unique solution. x+y+z=6
x + 2y + 3z = 10
Thus x = 0 , y = 0 and z = 0 is the only
x + 2y + λ z = µ
solution of given system.
will have
(i) Unique solution
(ii) No solution
(iii) Infinite number of solutions.

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 ⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
⎢ ⎥
Solution: The given system of equation [A / D] = ⎢1 2 3 10 ⎥
can be written as
⎡1 1 1 ⎤ ⎡ x ⎤ ⎡ 6 ⎤ ⎣⎢1 2 λ µ ⎥⎦
⎢1 2 3 ⎥ ⎢ y ⎥ = ⎢10⎥ Applying R 2 → R 2 − R 1 ,
⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ R 3 → R 3 − R1
⎢⎣1 2 λ ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ z ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ µ ⎥⎦
⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
i.e. AX = D , where the augmented ⎢ ⎥
matrix [A / D] = ⎢0 1 2 4 ⎥
⎢⎣0 1 λ − 1 µ − 6 ⎥⎦

Applying R 3 → R 3 − R 2
⎡1 1 1 6 ⎤
⎢ ⎥
[A / D] = ⎢0 1 2 4 ⎥
⎢⎣0 0 λ − 3 µ − 10 ⎥⎦
which is in Echelon form.
(i) For Unique solution, we require
ρ [A / D] = ρ (A) = 3 (number of vari
, which is possible iff.:
λ − 3 ≠ 0 ⇒ λ ≠ 3.
(ii) For No solution, we require
ρ [A / D] ≠ ρ (A) , which is
possible iff.:
λ − 3 = 0 and µ − 10 ≠ 0
Or λ = 3 and µ ≠ 10
(iii) For Infinite number of solutions, we
require
ρ [A / D] = ρ (A) < 3 (number of variables)
which is possible iff.:
λ − 3 = 0 and µ − 10 = 0

Example-3 For what values of λ and

µ , the following non-homogeneous
system
2x + 3y + 5z = 9
7x + 3y -2z = 8
2x + 3y + λz = µ
will have
(i) Unique solution
(ii) No solution
(iii) Infinite number of solutions.

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