MAT.116
5.2
Systems of Linear Equations: Unique Solutions

Row Operations

Interchange any two rows (equations)

R_i <--> R_j

Replace an row (equation) by a nonzero constant multiple of itself

cR_i --> R_i

Replace any row (equation) by the sum of that row (equation) and a constant multiple of any other row (equation)

R_i + aR_j --> R_i

Augmented Matrix

r

A matrix formed from a system of linear equation where the equations are written in standard form with the variable terms written in the same order for each equation.The matrix has a vertical line separating the coefficients from the left sides of the equations from the constants on the right sides of the equations.The matrix of coefficients on the left side of the vertical line is called the coefficient matrix.

Row-Reduced Form

Each row consisting entirely of zeros lies below all rows having nonzero entries.

The first nonzero entry in each (nonzero) row is 1 (called a leading 1).

In any two successive (nonzero) rows, the leading 1 in the lower row lies to the right of the leading 1 in the upper row.

If a column in the coefficient matrix contains a leading 1, then the other entries in that column are zeros.

Gauss-Jordan Elimination

Write the augmented matrix corresponding to the linear system

Interchange rows, if necessary, to obtain an augmented matrix in which the first entry in the first row is nonzero. Then pivot the matrix about this entry.

Interchange the second row with any row below it, if necessary, to obtain an augmented matrix in which the second entry in the second row is nonzero. Pivot the matrix about this entry.

Continue until the final matrix is in row-reduced form.

Pivoting

Transform a column into a unit column

Make the pivot element 1 by swapping the row with a row below it, or by multiplying the row by the reciprocal of the pivot element

Make all other entries in the same column zero by replacing each nonpivot row with the sum of that row and a constant multiple of the pivot row (the constant multiple should be the opposite of the entry that is being changed to a zero)

Unit Column

r

A column in a coefficient matrix is called a unit column if one of the entries in the column is a 1 and the other entries are zero.