Solutions of Linear Systems:

Existence, Uniqueness

Section 7.5 p1
 Solutions of Linear Systems: Existence, Uniqueness

Theorem 1
Fundamental Theorem for Linear Systems

(a) Existence.
A linear system of m equations in n unknowns x1, … ,xn
a11 x1  a12 x2   a1n xn  b1
(1) a21 x1  a22 x2   a2 n xn  b2

am1 x1  am 2 x2   amn xn  bm .
is consistent, that is, has solutions, if and only if the coefficient
matrix A and the augmented matrix à have the same rank.
 Solutions of Linear Systems: Existence, Uniqueness

Theorem 1 (continued)
Fundamental Theorem for Linear Systems (continued)
(a) Existence. (continued)

Here, a11 a1n   a11 a1n b1 

        
A and A
        
   
 am 1 amn   am 1 amn bm 
 Solutions of Linear Systems: Existence, Uniqueness

Theorem 1 (continued)
Fundamental Theorem for Linear Systems (continued)
(b) Uniqueness.

The system (1) has precisely one solution if and only if this
common rank r of A and à equals n.
 Solutions of Linear Systems: Existence, Uniqueness

Theorem 1 (continued)
Fundamental Theorem for Linear Systems (continued)

(c) Infinitely many solutions.

If this common rank r is less than n, the system (1) has infinitely
many solutions. All of these solutions are obtained by
determining r suitable unknowns (whose submatrix of
coefficients must have rank r) in terms of the remaining n − r
unknowns, to which arbitrary values can be assigned.
 Q.No.1
Determine the existence and
Uniqueness of the solution to the
system
3 x2  6 x3  6 x4  4 x5  5
3 x1  7 x2  8 x3  5 x4  8 x5  9
3 x1  9 x2  12x3  9 x4  6 x5  15
 Solution:
The Augmented matrix of a linear
system has been transformed by row
operation into the form below.

 0 3 6 4 :  6
6
 3 7 8 5 8 : 9 

 3 9 12  9 6 : 15
 Solution continued…..
…………………………………………
…………………………………………

 3 9 12  9 6 : 15 
0 
 2 4 4 2 : 6 
 0 0 0 0 1 : 4
 Solution continued…..
The pivot positions [ ] give the clear
solutions of existence with x1, x2 and
x5, where as x3 and x4 are free
variables. Also the solution is not
unique because there are free
variables. Each different choice of x3
and x4 gives the different solution.
Hence the system has infinitely many
solution.