Chapter 1.

Solutions to problems

ThienNV

February 25, 2021

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 1 / 26

 Solutions and Elementary Operations

Ex 1.1.1a
Verify that the following are solutions for all values of s and t.

x = 19t − 35
y = 25 − 13t
z =t

is a solution of

2x + 3y + z = 5
5x + 7y − 4z = 0

Answer: Check that

2(19t − 35) + 3(25 − 13t) + t = 5

5(19t − 35) + 7(25 − 13t) − 4t = 0

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 2 / 26

 Solutions and Elementary Operations

Ex 1.1.2d

Find all solutions to the following in parametric form of:

x − 2y + 5z = 1.

Answer: 
x = 1 + 2y − 5z = 1 + 2t − 5s

y =t ,

z =s


where s, t are two parameters.

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 3 / 26

 Solutions and Elementary Operations

Ex 1.1.8

Write a system of linear equations that has each of the following

augmented matrices

x − y + 6z = 0
 
1 −1 6 0 
a)  0 1 0 3 . Answer: y =3 .
2 −1 0 1

2x − y =1


2x − y = −1
 
2 −1 0 −1 
b)  −3 2 1 0 . Answer: −3x + 2y + z =0 .
0 1 1 3

y +z =3


ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 4 / 26

 Solutions and Elementary Operations

Ex 1.1.9d
Find the solution of the following system of linear equations

3x + 4y = 1
4x + 5y = −3

Answer: The augmented matrix

   
3 4 1 1/3R1 1 4/3 1/3
Ā = −−−−−−−→
4 5 −3 −4/3R1 +R2 0 −1/3 −13/3
   
−3R2 1 4/3 1/3 −4/3R2 +R1 1 0 −17
−−−→ −−−−−−−→ .
0 1 13 0 1 13
Hence the system has unique solution

x = −17
y = 13

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 5 / 26

 Solutions and Elementary Operations

Ex 1.1.10b
Find the solution of the following system of linear equations
2x + y + z = −1
x + 2y + z = 0
3x − 2z = 5
   
2 1 1 −1 1 2 1 0
R1 ↔R2
Ā =  1 2 1 0  −− −−→  2 1 1 −1 
3 0 −2 5 3 0 −2 5
   
1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0
−2R1 +R2 −2R2 +R3
−−−−−−→  0 −3 −1 −1  −−−−−−→  0 −3 −1 −1 
−3R1 +R3
0 −6 −5 5 0 0 −3 7

x = −z − 2y = 1/9
 
1 2 1 0
−1/3R2
−−−−→  0 1 1/3 1/3  . y = 1/3 − 1/3z = 10/9
−1/3R3
0 0 1 −7/3 z = −7/3
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 6 / 26
 Solutions and Elementary Operations

1.1.19

Workmen John and Joe earn a total of $24.60 when John works 2 hours
and Joe works 3 hours. If John works 3 hours and Joe works 2 hours, they
get $23.90. Find their hourly rates.

Answer: Let x, y be the hourly rates of John and Joe respectively. We

have

2x + 3y = 24.6
3x + 2y = 23.9

Solving this system, we obtain

x = 4.5
y = 5.2

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 7 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

Ex 1.2.1

Which of the following matrices are in reduced row-echelon form? Which

are in row-echelon form?
 
1 −1 2
a. 0 0 0 is not in row-echelon form.
0 0 1
 
2 1 −1 3
b. is not in row-echelon form.
0 0 0 0
 
1 −2 3 5
c. is in row-echelon, but not reduced row-echelon.
0 0 0 1
 
0 0 1
f. 0 0 1 is not in row-echelon form.
0 0 1

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 8 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

Ex 1.2.2a

 
0 −1 2 1 2 1 −1
0
 1 −2 2 7 2 4 
0 −2 4 3 7 1 0
0 3 −6 1 6 4 1
 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 −1 1
−R1 , R1 +R2 0 0 0 3 9 3 3
−−−−−−−−−−−→  
−2R1 +R3 , 3R1 +R4 0 0 0 1 3 −1 2 
0 0 0 4 12 7 −2
 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 −1 1
R2 ↔R3 0 0 0 1 3 −1 2 
−−−−−−−−−−−−−→  
−3R3 +R2 , −4R3 +R4 0 0 0 0 0 6 −3 
0 0 0 0 0 11 −10

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 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.2a cont

 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 −1 1
1/6R3 0 0 0 1 3 −1 2 
−−−−−−−−→  
−11/6R3 +R4 0 0 0 0 0 1 −1/2
0 0 0 0 0 0 −9/2
 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 −1 1
−2/9R4 0 0 0 1 3 −1 2 
−−−−→  
0 0 0 0 0 1 −1/2
0 0 0 0 0 0 1
 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 −1 0
1/2R4 +R3 0 0 0 1 3 −1 0
−−−−−−−−−−−−→  
−2R4 +R2 , −R4 +R1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 10 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.2a cont

 
0 1 −2 −1 −2 0 0
R3 +R1 0 0 0 1 3 0 0
−−−−→  
R3 +R2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1
 
0 1 −2 0 −2 0 0
R +R1 0
 0 0 1 3 0 0
−−2−−→ 0

0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 11 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.3a
The augmented matrix of a system of linear equations has been carried to
the following by row operations. In each case solve the system.
 
1 2 0 3 1 0 −1
 0 0 1 −1 1 0 2 
 
 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Answer: We have rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 3 < 6 (the number of variables).
Hence, the system has infinite solutions (with 6 − 3 = 3 parameters):
x1 = −1 − 2x2 − 3x4 − x5 = −1 − 2u − 3t − s
x2 = u
x3 = 2 + x4 − x5 = 2 + t − s
x4 = t
x5 = s
x6 = 3
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 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.3d
The augmented matrix of a system of linear equations has been carried to
the following by row operations. In each case solve the system.
 
1 −1 2 4 6 2
 0 1 2 1 −1 −1 
 
 0 0 0 1 0 1 
0 0 0 0 0 0
Answer: We have rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 3 < 5 (the number of variables).
Hence, the system has infinite solutions (with 5 − 3 = 2 parameters):
x1 = 2 + x2 − 2x3 − 4x4 − 6x5 = −4 − 4t − 5s
x2 = −1 − 2x3 − x4 + x5 = −2 − 2t + s
x3 = t
x4 = 1
x5 = s
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 13 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.4d
Find all solutions (if any) to each of the following system of linear
equations.
x1 + x2 + 2x3 − x4 = 4
3x2 − x3 + 4x4 = 2
x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 + 5x4 = 0
x1 + x2 − 5x3 + 6x4 = −3
The augmented matrix
   
1 1 2 −1 4 1 1 2 −1 4
 0 3 −1 4 2  −R1 +R3  0 3 −1 4 2 
Ā =  − −−−−→  
 1 2 −3 5 0  −R1 +R4  0 1 −5 6 −4 
1 1 −5 6 −3 0 0 −7 7 −7
   
1 1 2 −1 4 1 1 2 −1 4
−1/7R4  0 0 14 −14 14  −1/7R4  0 0 14 −14 14 
−−−−−−→   −−−−−−→  
−3R3 +R2  0 1 −5 6 −4  −3R3 +R2  0 1 −5 6 −4 
0 0 1 −1 1 0 0 1 −1 1
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 14 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.4d cont

   
1 1 2 −1 4 1 1 2 −1 4
−14R +R2  0
 0 0 0 0  R2 ↔R4  0 1 −5 6 −4 
−−−−4−−→ −−−−→  .
 0 1 −5 6 −4  R20 ↔R30  0 0 1 −1 1 
0 0 1 −1 1 0 0 0 0 0

We have rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 3 < 4. Hence, the system has infinite

solutions (with 1 parameter):

x1 = 4 − x2 − 2x3 + x4 = 1
x2 = −4 + 5x3 − 6x4 = 1 − s
x3 = 1 + x4 = 1 + s
x4 = s

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 15 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.5e
Find all solutions (if any) to each of the following system of linear
equations
5x + y = 2
3x − y + 2z = 1
x + y − z = 5
Answer. The augmented matrix
   
5 1 0 2 1 1 −1 5
R1 ↔R3
Ā =  3 −1 2 1 − −−−→  3 −1 2 1 
1 1 −1 5 5 1 0 2
   
1 1 −1 5 1 1 −1 5
−3R1 +R2
−−−−−−→ 0 −4 5 −14
  −−1/4R 2
−−−−→  0 1 −5/4 7/2 
−5R1 +R3 −R2 +R3
0 −4 5 −23 0 0 0 −9

The system has no solution since rank(Ā) = 3 6= rank(A) = 2.

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 16 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

1.2.7c
Find all solutions (if any) to each of the following system of linear
equations
x1 − x2 + x3 − 2x4 = 1
−x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 = −1
−x1 + 2x2 + 3x3 − x4 = 2
x1 − x2 + 2x3 + x4 = 1
The augmented matrix
   
1 −1 1 −2 1 1 −1 1 −2 1
 −1 1 1 1 −1  R1 +R2  0 0 2 −1 0 
 −1 2 3 −1 2  −
Ā =   −−− −−−−−→  
R1 +R3 ,−R1 +R4  0 1 4 −3 3 
1 −1 2 1 1 0 0 1 3 0
   
1 −1 1 −2 1 1 −1 1 −2 1
R1 +R2  0 0 2 −1 0  R1 ↔R2  0 1 4 −3 3 
−−−−− −−−−→   −−−−→  
R1 +R3 ,−R1 +R4  0 1 4 −3 3  R20 ↔R30  0 0 1 3 0 
0 0 1 3 0 0 0 2 −1 0
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 17 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.7c cont

   
1 −1 1 −2 1 1 −1 1 −2 1
−2R +R4  0
 1 4 −3 3  −1/7R4  0 1 4 −3 3 
−−−−3−−→  0 0 1 3
− −−−→  .
0   0 0 1 3 0 
0 0 0 −7 0 0 0 0 1 0

We have rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 4. Hence, the system has unique solution

x1 = 1 + x2 − x3 + 2x4 = 4
x2 = 3 − 4x3 + 3x2 = 3
x3 = −3x4 = 0
x4 = 0

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 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.8a
Find (if possible) conditions on a and b such that the system has no
solution, one solution, and infinitely many solutions.
x − 2y = 1
ax + by = 5
Answer: We have
   
1 −2 1 −aR1 +R2 1 −2 1
Ā = −−−−−−→
a b 5 0 2a + b −a + 5
We can see:
If 2a + b 6= 0 then rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 2. Hence the system has
unique solution.
If 2a + b = 0 and −a + 5 6= 0 then rank(Ā) = 2, rank(A) = 1, the
system has no solution.
If 2a + b = 0 and −a + 5 = 0 (or a = 5 and b = −10), then
rank(Ā) = rank(A) = 1, the system has infinite solutions.
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 Gaussian Elimination

Ex1.2.9a
Find (if possible) conditions on a and b such that the system has no
solution, one solution, and infinitely many solutions.
3x + y − z = a
x − y + 2z = b
5x + 3y − 4z = c

   
3 1 −1 a 1 −1 2 b
R1 ↔R2 −3R +R3
Ā =  1 −1 2 b  −− −−→  3 1 −1 a  −−−−1−−→
−5R1 +R3
5 3 −4 c 5 3 −4 c
   
1 −1 2 b 1 −1 2 b
−2R +R3
 0 4 −7 a − 3b  −−−−2−−→  0 1 −7/4 (a − 3b)/4 
1/4R2
0 8 −14 −5b + c 0 0 0 −2a + b + c

Hence, if −2a + b + c 6= 0 then the system has no solution. Else, the

system has infinite solutions.
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 20 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

1.2.11c

Find the rank of the following matrix.

   
1 1 −1 3 1 1 −1 3
R1 +R2
C = −1 4 5 −2 −−− −−→ 0 5 4 1
−R1 +R3
1 6 3 4 0 5 4 1
 
1 1 −1 3
−R +R3
−−−2−−→ 0 1 4/5 1/5 .
1/5R2
0 0 0 0

Hence rank(C ) = 2.

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 21 / 26

 Gaussian Elimination

1.2.11e
Find the rank of the following matrix.
   
1 2 −1 0 1 2 −1 0
−R +R3
E = 0 a 1 − a a2 + 1 −−−1−−→ 0 a 1 − a a2 + 1
1 2 − a −1 −2a 2 0 −a 0 −2a2
 
1 2 −1 0
R2 +R3 2
−−−−→ 0 a 1 − a a + 1 .

0 0 1 − a 1 − a2

Hence
If a 6= 0, 1 then rank(E ) = 3.
 
1 2 −1 0
If a = 0 then rank(E ) = rank 0 0 1 1 = 2.
0 0 1 1
If a = 1 then we can see rank(E ) = 2.
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 22 / 26
 Gaussian Elimination

Ex 1.2.22

If a consistent system has more variables than equations, show that it has
infinitely many solutions.
Proof. Let A, Ā be the coefficient matrix and the augmented matrix of
the system.
Since the system is consistent, we must have rank(A) = rank(A) = r .
Moreover, since the system has more variables than equations, we obtain
that r is less than the number of variables n. Hence, the system has
infinitely many solutions.

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 23 / 26

 Homogeneous Systems

Ex 1.3.2d

Find all values of a for which the system has nontrivial solutions, and
determine all solutions.
ax + y + z = 0
x + y − z = 0
x + y + az = 0

Answer:
     
a 1 1 1 1 −1 1 1 −1
R1 ↔R2 −aR +R2
A = 1 1 −1 −− −−→ a 1 1  −−−−1−−→ 0 1 − a 1 + a
−R1 +R3
1 1 a 1 1 a 0 0 1+a

We can see rank(A) < 3 if and only if a = 1 or a = −1. Hence the system
has nontrivial solutions if and only if a = −1 or a = 1.

ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 24 / 26

 Homogeneous Systems

Ex 1.3.3b
       
2 1 1 4
Let x =  1  , y = 0 , z =  1  and v =  3 . Write v as a linear
−1 1 −2 −4
combination of x, y , z or show that it is not a linear combination.
Answer: Suppose that we have w = t1 x + t2 y + t3 z. This is a system of
3 variables t1 , t2 , t3 with
   
2 1 1 4 0 1 −1 −2
−2R +R1 R1 ↔R2
Ā =  1 0 1 3  −−−−2−−→  1 0 1 3  −− −−→
R2 +R3
−1 1 −2 −4 0 1 −1 −1
   
1 0 1 3 1 0 1 3
−R2 +R3
 0 1 −1 −2  − −−−−→  0 1 −1 −2 
0 1 −1 3 0 0 0 5

We have rank(Ā) = 3 while rank(A) = 2. The system has no solution.

Hence, v is not a linear combination of x, y , z.
ThienNV Chapter 1. Solutions to problems February 25, 2021 25 / 26
 Homogeneous Systems

Ex 1.3.5b
Find a set of basic solutions and express the general solution as a linear
combination of these basic solutions.
   
1 2 −1 1 1 1 2 −1 1 1
R1 +R2
A = −1 −2 2 0 1 −−−−→ 0
   0 1 1 2
R1 +R3
−1 −2 3 1 3 0 0 2 2 4
 
1 2 −1 1 1
−2R +R3
−−−−2−−→ 0 0 1 1 2 .
0 0 0 0 0
We have rank(A) = 2. Hence the system has infinite solutions (with 3
basic solutions) of form
         
x1 −2u − 2t − 3s −2 −2 −3
x2   u  1 0 0
         
x3  =  −t − 2s  = u  0  + t −1 + s −2
         
x4   t  0 1 0
x5 s 0 0 1
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