MATH 102

University of Alberta

Lecture 8
§5.2 - Gauss Jordan Elimination

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Row Echelon form (REF)
A matrix with the following three properties is said to be in row echelon
form (REF).
i Rows with entirely zero entries are put at the bottom below rows
having some non-zero entries.
ii If a row is not entirely zero, then the first non-zero entry in this row is
1 (called leading entry).
iii For any consecutive rows, leading entry of the lower row is further to
the right of the leading entry of the above row.

Row reduced Echelon form (RREF)

A matrix that is already in REF is called in reduced echelon form
(RREF) if all entries in a column with leading 1 are zeros except the
leading 1.

Remark
Any matrix in RREF is also in REF.
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Examples
Identify the matrices that are
in REF, RREF, or neither
 forms. 
    1 0 2
1 3 0 1 10 2 1 0 1 −2
0 1 2 0 , 0 1 0 0 ,  
0 0 0 
0 0 1 9 00 0 0
0 0 0
 
  1 0 2
  1 3 0 1 5 −4 0 1 −2
1 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4  ,
,  
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 1 7
0 0 1
 
1 0 3
0 0 2
0 1 0

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Converting a matrix into RREF
To put a matrix into RREF using elementary row operations, first put the
matrix into REF by creating 0’s under all leading positions (applying
elementary row operations and working left to right).
Then put the matrix into RREF by creating 0’s above all leading entries
(working left to right). Leading positions can be made into leading 1’s at
any point.

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Example
Find the REF and RREF of the following matrix.
 
1 3 0 1
1 4 2 0
 
0
 −2 −2 −1 
2 −4 1 1
1 −2 −1 1

Solution

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Remark: A given matrix may have several REF’s, but the RREF is unique.
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Remark
By looking at the REF of an augmented matrix, we can decide whether
the system has (i) no solutions, (ii) infinitely many solutions, (iii) one
unique solution:
If a row has the form [0, 0, . . . , 0|b] where b 6= 0 in the REF, then the
system has no solution (Inconsistent).
If there is a column (other than the augmented column) without
leading 1 in the REF, then the variable corresponding to this column
is a free variable; i.e. this variable can assume any value. So, the
system has infinitely many solution (Consistent system).
An REF without a free variable has a unique solution (Consistent).

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Examples
The following are augmented matrices of systems of linear equations.
Determine if the corresponding system has no solution, exactly one
solution, or infinitely many solution from the REF.
 
  1 3 0 1 5 −4
1 4 0 1  
1 3 0 1 0 1 7 0 2 4
(a) 0 1 2 0 , (b) , (c)  
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 9
0 0 0 0 0 0

 
1 0 2  
  1 4 0 −1 2 8
1 3 0 1 0 1 −2
(d) , (e)  , (f ) 0 1 −2 0 2 4
0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 7
0 0 0

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Solving a system
To find the solution(s) to a consistent system:
1 Write the augmented matrix.
2 Reduce it to RREF.
3 Express each variable in terms of the free variables (parameters) if
there are any.
4 Write a parametric equation (or vector equation) describing the
solutions.

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Example
Solve the system of linear equations

3x1 + x2 − 2x4 = − 4
−2x1 + 2x2 + 4x3 − 5x4 = 1
x1 − 4x3 + x4 = − 2

Solution

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