Chapter 9: Linear Algebra and Analytic Geometry
Section 9.1: Linear Systems
Consider a system of two linear equations
a11 x1 + a12 x2 = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 = b2 .
A solution of this system is a point (x1 , x2 ) that satisfies both equations. Each of these
equations represents a straight line in the plane. Therefore, a solution is any intersection of
the two lines. There are three cases to consider:
1. The system has exactly one solution. (The two lines have one point of intersection)
2. The system has no solutions. (The two lines are parallel)
3. The system has infinitely many solutions. (The two lines are identical)
Example: Solve the linear system
2x + 3y = 6
2x + y = 4.
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Example: Solve the linear system
2x + y = 4
4x + 2y = 6.
Example: Solve the linear system
2x + y = 4
6x + 3y = 12.
2
Consider a system of m linear equations in n variables
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + · · · + a1n xn = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + · · · + a2n xn = b2
..
.
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + · · · + amn xn = bm .
The variables are x1 , x2 , . . . xn and the coefficients are aij , 1 ≤ i ≤ m, 1 ≤ j ≤ n. The
system can be solved by transforming it into a simpler system that has the same solutions.
Systems of linear equations that have the same solutions are called equivalent.
To transform a linear system into an equivalent system, we use three basic operations:
1. Multiplying an equation by a nonzero constant.
2. Adding one equation to another.
3. Rearranging the order of the equations.
This process is known as Gaussian elimination.
Example: Solve the linear system
x + y − 2z = −3
2x − 3y + z = −1
3x − 2y + z = 2.
3
Example: Solve the linear system
x + 4y − 3z = −13
2x − 3y + 5z = 18
3x + y − 2z = 1.
Example: Solve the linear system
2x − y + 3z = 3
2x + y + 4z = 4
2x − 3y + 2z = 2.
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Definition: A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers:


a11 a12 · · · a1n
 a21 a22 · · · a2n 


A =  ..
..
.. 
...
 .
.
. 
am1 am2 · · · amn
The elements aij of the matrix A are called entries. A matrix with m rows and n columns
is called an m × n matrix.
Consider a system of m linear equations in n variables
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + · · · + a1n xn = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + · · · + a2n xn = b2
..
.
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + · · · + amn xn = bm .
This system can be expressed as an augmented matrix

a11 a12 · · · a1n b1
 a21 a22 · · · a2n b2

 ..
..
..
..
..
 .
.
.
.
.
am1 am2 · · · amn bn



.

The linear system can be solved by performing Gaussian elimination on the rows of the
augmented matrix.
Example: Solve the linear system
−x − 2y + 3z = −9
2x + y − z = 5
4x − 3y + 5z = −9.
5
Example: Solve the linear system
2x + 3y + z = 1
x+y+z = 3
3x + 4y + 2z = 4.
Example: Solve the linear system
x − y + 2z = 4
2x + 3y − z = 1
7x + 3y + 4z = 7.
6
Definition: A linear system is called underdetermined if it has fewer equations than variables. Similarly, a system is overdetermined if it has more equations than variables.
Example: Solve the underdetermined system
x+y+z = 3
x − y = 2.
Example: Solve the overdetermined system
x+y = 1
4x − 3y = 6
2x + y = 1.
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Example: Solve the underdetermined system
2x − 2y + 4z = 6
−x + y − 2z = −3.
Example: Solve the overdetermined system
3x + y = 1
x−y = 0
4x = 1.
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Example: Three different species of insects are reared together in a laboratory cage. They
are supplied with two different types of food each day. Each individual of species 1 consumes
3 units of food A and 5 units of food B, each individual of species 2 consumes 2 units of food
A and 3 units of food B, and each individual of species 3 consumes 1 unit of food A and 2
units of food B. Each day, 500 units of food A and 900 units of food B are supplied. How
many individuals of each species can be reared together? Is there more than one solution?
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