Systems of linear equations

System of two linear equations with two unknown x and y:

a1 x + b1 y = c1
a2 x + b2 y = c2

This is the so-called ''simple'' system to which we can always get with equivalent transformations (described in
file equations)

Here are a1 , a2 , b1 , b2 , c1 , c2 the real numbers (and sometimes parameters).

a1 x0 + b1 y0 = c1
Solution is ordered pair ( x0 , y0 ) :
a2 x0 + b2 y0 = c2

Systems can be solved using several methods: replacement, contrary coefficients, Gauss, with the determinants,
matrix, etc.

For us is most important to correctly solve the task (the problem) and we will try to learn you that.

Mention only, that the system can have: a unique solution, infinite much solutions (neutral system) or that there
is no solution (impossible system).

2x + 3 y = 7
Example 1. Solve the system: 3 x − 6 y = 7
_______________

2 x + 3 y = 7 /*2 Make the same numbers and opposite sign(in front of x or y), and then these
two equations gather . Therefore, we will multiply the first equation by 2
3x − 6 y = 7
_______________
When you find one solution, go to one of the equation (any) to find another
4 x + 6 y = 14 solution.
+
3 x − 6 y = 7
___________________

7 x = 21
21
x=
7
x=3 2x + 3y = 7

2x + 3 y = 7 _

2 ⋅3 + 3y = 7
6 + 3y = 7
3y = 7 − 6  1
Here is a unique solution: ( x, y ) =  3, 
 3
3y = 1
1
y=
3
Example 2. Solve the system : 5 x + y = −1
− 10 x − 2 y = 2
___________________

5 x + y = −1 /( −2) Multiply the first equation with (-2)

− 10 x − 2 y = 2
___________________

+ 10 x + 2 y = −2
− 10 x − 2 y = 2
___________________

0=0

This tells us that the system has infinite solutions. To describe that ''solutions'', from one of the equation express
x (or y), of course, what is easier.

5 x + y = −1
y = −1 − 5 x

Now, the solutions are: ( x, y ) = ( x,−1 − 5 x) x∈R

Example 3. Solve the system : 2x + 3 y = 4

− 2x − 3 y = 5
_________________

2 x + 3 y = 4 Gather them immediately

− 2x − 3 y = 5
_________________

0=9

In this situation we say that system is impossible, and no solutions.

5x − 1 3 y − 1
Example 4. Solve the system : + =3
6 10
11 − x 11 + y
+ =3
6 4
_______________________________
 5x − 1 3 y − 1
+ = 3.... /⋅ 30
6 10
11 − x 11 + y
+ = 3.... /⋅ 12
6 4
_______________________________

5(5 x − 1) + 3(3 y − 1) = 90
2(11 − x) + 3(11 + y ) = 36
__________________________________

25 x − 5 + 9 y − 3 = 90
22 − 2 x + 33 + 3 y = 36
______________________________

25 x + 9 y = 90 + 5 + 3
− 2 x + 3 y = −19.... /⋅ (−3)
______________________________

25 x + 9 y = 98
+
6 x − 9 y = 57 
____________________

31x = 155
x=5
Let's go back now in one of the equation for a simple system.

− 2 x + 3 y = −19
− 2 ⋅ 5 + 3 y = −19
3 y = −19 + 10
3 y = −9
y = −3

( x, y ) = (5,−3) is solution

14 24
Example 5.Solve the system : + = 10
x y
7 18 We observe that unknown are in divisor.
− = −5
x y
________________ In such situation it is best to take replacement:

1 1
= a and =b
x y

1 1
14 ⋅ + 24 ⋅ = 10 14a + 24b = 10
x y
1 1 7 a − 18b = −5
7 ⋅ − 18 ⋅ = −5 __________ ________
x y
_______________________
14a + 24b = 10
7a − 18b = −5/(−2)
__________________
7a − 18b = −5
14a + 24b = 10 
+ 1
− 14a + 36b = 10 7a − 18 ⋅ = −5
_______________________ 3
60b = 20 7a − 6 = −5
20 7 a = −5 + 6
b=
60 7a = 1
1 1
b= a=
3 7

Back in replacement to find x and y.

1 1
= a, =b
x y
1 1 1 1
= , = ( x, y ) = (7,3)
x 7 y 3
x=7 y =3

Example 6. Solve the system : ax − 9 y = 14a

2ax + 3 y = 7 a
___________________

Here we note that there is parameter a. Careful!

ax − 9 y = 14a
2ax + 3 y = 7 a
___________________

ax − 9 y = 14a
2ax + 3 y = 7 a ... /⋅ 3
___________________

ax − 9 y = 14a 
+
+ 6ax + 9 y = 21a 
________________________

7 ax = 35a
35a
x= a ≠ 0 ,the condition
7a
x=5
ax − 9 y = 14a
5a − 9 y = 14a
−9 y = 14a − 5a
−9 y = 9 a
y = −a

Solutions are ( x, y ) = (5, − a ) a≠0

What happens if a = 0 ?

Change value a = 0 to the initial system:

0 ⋅ x − 9 y = 0 Here you can see that y = 0 and x can be any number.

0 ⋅ x + 3y = 0
_________________

y=0 x∈R

Solutions are: ( x, y ) = ( x, 0) x∈R

System three equations with three unknown

x + 2 y − 5z = 6
7) Solve the system: −2 x + y + 2 z = 5
−3 x + 3 y − 4 z = 8

Solution:
x + 2 y − 5z = 6 → x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
−2 x + y + 2 z = 5
−3 x + 3 y − 4 z = 8
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
−2(6 − 2 y + 5 z ) + y + 2 z = 5
−3(6 − 2 y + 5 z ) + 3 y − 4 z = 8
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
−12 + 4 y − 10 z + y + 2 z = 5
−18 + 6 y − 15 z + 3 y − 4 z = 8
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
5 y − 8 z = 17
9 y − 19 z = 26
 x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
17 + 8 z
5 y − 8 z = 17 → 5 y = 17 + 8 z → y =
5
9 y − 19 z = 26
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
17 + 8 z
y=
5
17 + 8 z
9⋅ − 19 z = 26.... / *5
5
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
17 + 8 z
y=
5
153 + 72 z − 95 z = 130
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
17 + 8 z
y=
5
−23 z = −23 → z = 1
5 y − 8 z = 17
5 y − 8 = 17
5 y = 25
y =5
z =1
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
17 + 8 ⋅1
y=
5
z =1
y=5
x = 6 − 2 y + 5z
z =1
y=5
x = 6 − 2 ⋅ 5 + 5 ⋅1
z =1
y=5
x =1
Solution is: ( x, y, z ) = (1,5,1)
Let's look the other way to solve:

x + 2 y − 5z = 6
− 2x + y + 2z = 5
− 3x + 3 y − 4 z = 8
Distinguish the first and third equation and Distinguish the second and third equation

x + 2 y − 5 z = 6 /⋅ 2 x + 2 y − 5 z = 6 /⋅ 3
− 2x + y + 2z = 5 − 3x + 3 y − 4 z = 8
______________________ ______________________

2x + 4 y − 10 z = 12  3x + 6 y − 15 z = 18
+ +
−2 x + y + 2 z = 5  −3 x + 3 y − 4 z = 8 
__________________________ __________________________

5 y − 8 z = 17 9 y − 19 z = 26

We got a system of two equations with two unknowns:

5 y − 8 z = 17 /⋅ 9
9 y − 19 z = 26/⋅ (−5)
__________________

45 y − 72 z = 153 
+
− 45 y + 95 z = −130
___________________________

23 z = 23
z =1
5 y − 8 z = 17
5 y − 8 = 17
5 y = 25
y =5

when you find two unknown back into one of the first three equations, (any).

x + 2 y − 5z = 6
x + 2 ⋅ 5 − 5 ⋅1 = 6
x + 10 − 5 = 6
x = 6 − 10 + 5
x =1

( x, y, z ) = (1,5,1)
 2 x − 3 y + z = −9
8) Solve the system: 5 x + y − 2 z = 12
x − 2 y − 3z = 1
____________________

Note that is now easier to get rid of the unknown z:

2 x − 3 y + z = −9 / ⋅ 2 2 x − 3 y + z = −9 /⋅ 3
5 x + y − 2 z = 12 x − 2 y − 3z = 1
______________________ ___________________

4a − 6 y + 2 z = −18 6 x − 9 y + 3 z = −27
5 x + y − 2 z = 12 x − 2 y − 3z = 1
______________________ ___________________

9 x − 5 y = −6 7 x − 11 y = −26

Take these two equations and find x and y.

Sad uzimamo ove dve jednačine i nadjemo x i y.

9 x − 5 y = −6 / ⋅ ( −7 )
7 x − 11 y = −26/⋅ 9
____________________

− 63 x + 35 y = 42
63 x − 99 y = −234
________________________

− 64 y = −192
y =3
9 x − 5 ⋅ 3 = −6
9 x = −6 + 15
9x = 9
x =1

x − 2 y − 3z = 1
1 − 2 ⋅ 3 − 3z = 1
1 − 6 − 3z = 1
−3 z = 1 + 5
−3 z = 6
z = −2

( x, y, z ) = (1,3, −2)