4.

6 Cramer’s Rule
Using Determinants to solve systems
of equations
 A system of equations can be
written as a matrix
3x + 5y
3 5
-2x + 7y becomes the matrix  
 2 7 
x – 6y + 3z
1  6 3 
4y – 8z  0 4  8
5x – 3y becomes 
5  3 0 

I will call this type of matrix an operation matrix

 Cramer’s Rule using the
determinants of two matrices
5x + 4y = 28 Find the determinant of the
3x – 2y = 8 operation matrix
5 4
 (10)  (12)  22
3 2
 Cramer’s Rule using the
determinants of two matrices
5x + 4y = 28 Find the determinant of the
3x – 2y = 8 matrix where one of the
variables coefficient are replaced with the
answers. When solve for x use
28 4 
Find it determinant  
8  2
28 4
 (56)  (32)  88
8 2

We will call this the new answer martix

 Cramer’s Rule using the
determinants of two matrices
Now to solve for x divide the new answer
matrix by the operation matrix
28 4
 (56)  (32)  88
8 2  88
4
5 4  22
 (10)  (12)  22
3 2
x is 4; y can be found the same way
 Matrix for y
New answer matrix
5 28
 (40)  (84)  44
3 8

Then divide by -22, for the operation matrix

 44
2
 22
Lets solve this system equations by
Cramer’s rule
2x – 3y + z = 5
x + 2y + z = -1
x – 3y + 2z = 1
Need to find the determinants of
2 3 1 5 3 1 2 5 1 2 3 5
1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1
1 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 3 1
 Find the determinant
We will use this for the denominators in the all the
fractions.
2 3 1
2 1 1 1 1 2
1 2 1  2  (3) 1
3 2 1 2 1 3
1 3 2

2(4  (3))  3(2  1)  (3  2)

2(7)  3(1)  (5)  14  3  5  12

 Solve for x
Replace the x column with the answers.
5 3 1
2 1 1 1 1 2
 1 2 1  5  ( 3) 1
3 2 1 2 1 3
1 3 2

5(4  (3))  3(2  1)  (3  2)

5(7)  3(3)  1  35  9  1  27

So x
27 9

12 4
 Solve for y
Replace the y column with the answers.
2 5 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
1  1 1  2 5 1
1 2 1 2 1 1
1 1 2

2(2  1)  5(2  1)  (1  (1))

2(3)  5(1)  2  6  5  2  9

So y
9 3

12 4
 Solve for z
Replace the z column with the answers.
2 3 5
2 1 1 1 1 2
1 2 1  2  (3) 5
3 1 1 1 1 3
1 3 1

2(2  3)  3(1  (1))  5(3  2)

2(1)  3(2)  5(5)  2  6  25  21

So z
 21  7

12 4
 Homework
Page 192 – 193
# 13,15, 17, 21,
23, 27, 29, 31
 Homework
Page 192 – 193
# 12, 14, 16, 20,
22, 26, 28, 30