MATH 102

University of Alberta

Lecture 7
§5.1 - System of Linear Equations

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Definition
Recall that a linear equation is an equation of the form

a1 x1 + a2 x2 + · · · + an xn = b

where all the ai ’s are real numbers called coefficients, b is a real number,
and the xi ’s are variables.

Illustration

Remark
A linear equation in the form a1 x1 + a2 x2 + · · · + an xn = 0 is called
homogeneous.
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Definition
A finite set of linear equations is called a system of linear equations; i.e.
a linear system of m equations are a set of equations in the following form:

a11 x1 + a12 x2 + · · · + a1n xn = b1

a21 x1 + a22 x2 + · · · + a2n xn = b2
.. .
. = ..
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + · · · + amn xn = bm

where x1 , x2 , ..., xn are variables and the aij ’s and the bi ’s are constants.

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Definition
To solve a system of linear equations means to find all values for the
variables that will simultaneously satisfy all equations in the system.

Example
Solve the system

x + y + z =1
2x + 2y − 2z =2
3x − 3y − 3z =3

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Theorem
Any system of linear equations has exactly one solution, or infinitely
many solutions, or no solution.

Definition
A linear system is called consistent if it has a solution (exactly one or
infinitely many). Otherwise, the system is called inconsistent.

Example
Solve the system

x +y =−8
x − y =2

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Example
Solve the system

x +y =−3
−2x − 2y = 6

Example
Solve the system

x + y =2
2x + 2y =1

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Coeffcient matrix
Recall that a linear system of m equations are equations of the following
form

a11 x1 + a12 x2 + · · · + a1n xn = b1

a21 x1 + a22 x2 + · · · + a2n xn = b2
.. .
. = ..
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + · · · + amn xn = bm

where x1 , x2 , ..., xn are variables and the aij ’s and the bi ’s are constants.
The coefficient matrix for this system is
 
a11 a12 . . . a1n
 a21 a22 . . . a2n 
 
 .. .. .. .. 
 . . . . 
am1 am2 . . . amn

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Augmented matrix
The augmented matrix for this system is
 
a11 a12 . . . a1n b1
 a21 a22 . . . a2n b2 
 
 .. .. .. .. .. 
 . . . . . 
am1 am2 . . . amn bm
The last column in the augmented matrix is called the augmented
column.

Illustration

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Elementary row operations
To simplify an augmented matrix, we use three elementary row
operations that do not change the solution set of the system of linear
equations:
1 Multiplying a row by a non-zero scalar.
2 Adding a scalar multiple of one row to another row.
3 Swapping rows.

Applying these operations result in an equivalent linear system with the

same solution. This allows us to create a system as many zero coefficients
as possible so that the system is easier to solve.

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Example
Solve the system

2x + 4y − 3z =1
x + y + 2z =9
3x + 6y − 5z =0

Solution

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