Chapter 3:

System of Linear
Equations
 OBJECTIVES :

At the end of the lesson, students should be

able to :
(a) Write given information in the form of a matrix.
(b) Write a system of linear equations in the form AX = B
(c) Discuss system of linear equations and the types of solutions namely: unique,
inconsistent and infinite solutions.
LINEAR SYSTEMS OF MATRIX EQUATIONS
Consider the system of linear equations with three
unknown x1, x2 and x3.
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + a13 x3 = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + a23 x3 = b2
a31 x1 + a32 x2 + a33 x3 = b3

All the linear systems above can be written

as a single matrix equation as below

 a11 a12 a13   x1   b1 

a  x  b 
 21 a 22 a 23    =
 2
2

a31 a32 a33   x3  b3 

WITH

 a11 a12 a13   b1   x1 


A = a21 a22 
a23  B = b2  X =  x 
    2
a31 a32 a33  b3   x3 
Thus, the system of linear equation can
be written as

AX = B
 Example 1:
Lili wants to buy three different flavours of ice
cream for her children. For the first child,
she buys ice cream which costs RM2 for a
scoop of strawberry, RM3 for a scoop of
vanilla and RM4 for a scoop of chocolate.
For the second child, she buys ice cream
which costs RM4, RM3 and RM1 for a scoop
of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate
respectively.
Meanwhile, for the third child, the cost is
RM1, RM2 and RM4 for a scoop of
strawberry, vanilla and chocolate
respectively.
She buys x scoops of strawberry ice
cream, y scoops of vanilla ice cream and
z scoops of chocolate ice cream for each
child.
•Write down system of equations if she spends
RM34 on the first child, RM28 on the second
child and RM27 on the third child.
 Let
x ~ scoop of
Solution : strawberry’s ice cream
First child Y ~ scoop of vanilla’s ice
cream
Linear equation;
z ~ scoop of chocolate’s
2x + 3y + 4z = 34 ice cream
4x + 3y + z = 28
x + 2y + 4z = 27 Second child

Third child
 The system of AX = B is called:

• Consistent if it has solution

Infinitely Unique
many
• Inconsistent if it has no
solution
Types of solution Has
of linear system equations solution

In a 2-dimensional geometry:

i. Unique
Consistent
ii. Infinitely
Has no
many
solution
iii. Inconsistent
i. Unique Solution

Example 2;
Solve the system
5x + 2y = 22
6x – 2y =0
Solution;
5x + 2y = 22 6(2) – 2y = 0
6x – 2y =0 y = 12/2
11x = 22 y=6
x= 2
There is one intersection point
at (2,6).

Thus it has a unique solution.

Example 3;
Solve the system
2x - y = 0
x + y =1
Solution;
2x - y = 0 1 +y=1
x+y=1 So, the system
3
3x = 1 has unique
2
y =
solution.
x= 1 3
3
ii. Infinite Solution
Example 4;
Solve the system y = 3 – 2x
4x + 2y = 6
Solution;
Substitute 3 – 2x for y
So, 4x + 2(3 – 2x) = 6
4x + 6 – 4x = 6
4x – 4x = 6 – 6
0x = 0
0x = 0
Let x = 1,
0=0
Let x=2
0=0
 x has many
solution.
Let x = t, and y = 3 – 2x

So y = 3 - 2t and t R
 x has many solution.
There are infinitely many points of
intersection thus it has infinitely
many solutions because x can be
any real number .
Example 5;
Solve the system x=2+y
-2x + 2y = -4
Let x = t,
y=x–2
Solution; So y = t - 2
Substitute 2 + y for x 
t R
So, -2(2 + y) + 2y =-4x has many
solution.
-4 – 2y + 2y = -4
-2y + 2y = -4 + 4
0y = 0
iii. Inconsistent Solution
Example 6;
4x + 6y = 12
Solve the system
6x + 9y = 12

Solution;
4x + 6y = 12 Multiply by 3 12 x + 18y = 36
Is that
6x + 9y = 12 Multiply by -2 -12x – 18y = -24
true?
FALSE! 0 = 12
There are no points of intersection
thus it has no solution
or also known as having an
inconsistent solution.
Example 7;

Solve the system 2x - y = 0

4x - 2y = 1
Solution;
2x - y = 0 Multiply by -2 -4x + 2y = 0
4x – 2y = 1
So, the system
has no 0=1
solution.
 CONCLUSION
The system of linear equation can
be written as

AX = B
Type of solution of linear system equations
of AX = B is called:

• Consistent (unique and infinitely) if it

has solution
• Inconsistent if it has no solution
Part 2: How to use inverse
matrix in solving AX=B?
 A. Using the Inverse Matrix method in
solving Systems of Linear Equations

If the number of equations in a system

equals to the number of variables and the
coefficient matrix has an inverse, then the
system will always have a unique solution
that can be found by using the inverse of
the coefficient matrix.

AX = B  X = A-1B
Proof : A X = B, ( a 3 x 3 square matrix)

A-1 ( A X ) = A-1 B REMEMBER !!

We can find the
inverse of a
( A-1A ) X = A-1B
matrix by using:

I X = A-1 B -Adjoint method

I ~ identity matrix -Properties
-Elementary Row
Operations
X = A-1 B
Example 1

Solve the following equations by using the inverse

matrix method

3 x1 + x2 + 2 x3 = 11
3 x1 + 2 x2 + 2 x3 = 10
x1 + x3 =5
Solution :
Convert this to a matrix equation of the
form AX = B

3 1 2  x1  11
3 2  
2   x2  10
 =
 
1 0 1  x3   5 
  2 − 1 − 2  2 − 1 − 2
−1 1  
A = − 1 1 0 =  −1 1 0 
1    
− 2 1 3  − 2 1 3 

X = A-1B
 x1   2 − 1 − 2 11
x    
=  − 1 1 0  10 
 2  
 x3  − 2 1 3   5 
  22 − 10 − 10 
 
=  − 11 + 10 + 0 
− 22 + 10 + 15

 x1  2 Therefore, x1 = 2,
x   
 2 = − 1 x2 =-1 and x3 = 3
 x3   3 
Example 2:
1 3 − 9  1 3 0
 
Given A = 5 − 1 3 B =
 2 − 1 3
   
1 3 7  − 1 0 1
Find AB and A-1.
Hence, solve the following linear equations.
x + 5y + z = 7
3x – y +3z = 5
-9x + 3y + 7z = 1
Solution :
1 3 − 9  1 3 0
AB = 5 − 1 3   2 − 1 3
   
1 3 7  − 1 0 1
16 0 0 
 
=  0 16 0  = 16 I
 0 0 16 
 AB = 16 I
1
-1
A = B
16
 1 3 0
1  
= 2 −1 3
16  
 −1 0 1 
 x + 5y + z = 7
3x – y +3z = 5
-9x + 3y + 7z = 1

1 5 1   x  7 
 3 − 1 3  y  = 5 
    
− 9 3 7  z  1
 AT X = P
(AT)-1ATX=(AT)-1P
X = (AT)-1P
1 2 −1 7 
1   
=  3 −1 0  5  
16
0 3 1  1 
 16 1
1   
= 16 = 1
16  
16 1

Therefore x = 1,
y = 1 and z = 1
Example 3:
 1 1 2
Given A =  0 2 2  .
 
 −1 1 3 

Find A2 – 6A + 11I, with I as an identity

matrix 3 x 3. Show that A(A2 – 6A + 11I)=6I,
hence deduce A-1.
Solution :
A − 6 A + 11I
2

 1 1 2  1 1 2  6 6 12 11 0 0 
   
=  0 2 2  0 2 2 −  0 12 12 +  0 11 0 
   
 −1 1 3  −1 1 3  −6 6 18  0 0 11

4 −1 −2 

=  −2 5 
−2 
 2 −2 2 
1 1 2 4 −1 −2 6 0 0
0 2 2 −2 5 −2 = 0 6 0
−1 1 3 2 −2 2 0 0 6

 A( A − 6 A + 11I ) = 6 I
2
Let A − 6 A + 11I = B
2

AB = 6I
−1 −1
A ( AB) = 6 A I
−1 −1
( A A) B = 6 A I
IB = 6 A I −1

1
−1
 A = B
6
 CONCLUSION
Proof : A X = B, ( a 3 x 3 square matrix)

A-1 ( A X ) = A-1 B

( A-1A ) X = A-1B

I X = A-1 B
I ~ identity matrix
X = A-1 B
Exercise
Solve the following equations by using
the inverse matrix method

9 x1 + 4 x2 + x3 = −17
x − 2 x2 − 6 x3 = 14
x1 + 6 x2 = 4
Answer

x1 = −2,
x2 = 1,
x3 = −3
Part 3: Gauss - Jordan
Elimination method
 Using The Gauss- Jordan Elimination
Method in solving Systems of Linear
equations
Gauss- Jordan Elimination Method
Procedure :
(i) Write the equation AX = B in the
form of the augmented matrix [ A | B ]

(ii) Use elementary row operation to

reduce the augmented matrix to form a
Reduced Augmented Matrix (RAM)
 Reduced
Augmented
Augmented
Matrix
Matrix

[A B]  [I X]
COEFFICIENT COLUMN
MATRIX MATRIX

IDENTITY SOLUTION
MATRIX MATRIX
Example 1
Solve the following system of linear
equations using G-J Elimination method
x − 3y + z = − 12
x + y + z = 0
2x − y + z = − 8
Solution :
1 − 3 1 − 12
 
 1 1 1 0  Augmented matrix
 2 − 1 1 − 8 
 1 − 3 1 − 12
 
 1 1 1 0 
R2* = -R1+R2
 2 − 1 1 − 8 

1 −3 1 −12 

 0 4 0 
12  R3* = -2R1+ R3
 2 −1 1 − 8 
 1 −3 −12 
1

 0 4 0  R
12  2
* = ¼R
2

0 5 −1 16 
1 −3 1 −12 

 0 1 0 
3  R3 = -5R2+ R3
0 5 −1 16 
 1 −3 1 −12 

 0 1 0 
3 3 R *= - R
3

0 0 −1 1 

1 −3 1 −12 

 0 1 0 3 R1* =-R3+R1

0 0 1 − 1
 1 −3 0 −11
→ 0 1 0อ 3 R1* = 3R2 + R1
0 0 1 −1

1 0 0 − 2

 0 1 0 
3
0 0 1 − 1
Therefore the solution is consistent or
unique, that is :

x = − 2 , y = 3 and z = − 1
Example 2

Ali, Bob and Ravi bought tickets for three

separate performances. The table below
shows the number of tickets bought by each
of them.
concert orchestral opera
Ali 2 1 1
Bob 1 1 1
Ravi 2 2 1
(a) If the total cost for Ali was RM 122 ,
for Bob RM 87 and for Ravi RM 146,
represent this information in the form of
three equations.
(b) Find the cost per ticket for each of the
performances using G-J elimination
method
(c) Determine how much it would cost
Hassan to purchase 2 concert , 1
orchestral and 3 opera tickets.
Solution :

Let x = the price per concert’s ticket

y = the price per orchestral’s ticket
z = the price per opera’s ticket

(a) The three equations are :

2x + y + z = 122 2 1 1 122 
1 1 1 87 
x+ y+ z = 87 
2x + 2y + z = 146  2 2 1 146 
(b) Form the augmented matrix from the
equations in (a) and use G-J elimination
method to find the value for x , y and z
2 1 1 122 
1 1 1 
87  R1 
R2

 2 2 1 146 

1 1 1 87 

 2 1 1 
122 
R2* = -2R1 + R2
R3* = -2R1 + R3
 2 2 1 146 
 1 1 1 87 
  R * = (-1)R
 0 −1 −1 − 52 
2 2

R3* = (-1)R3
0 0 −1 − 28 

1 1 1 87 
  R * = (-)R + R
 0
2 3 2
1 1 52 
R1* = (-)R3 + R1
0 0 1 28 
 1 1 0 59 

 0 1 0 
24  1R * = -R + R
2 1

0 0 1 28 
1 0 0 35  => x = 35

 0 1 0 
24  => y = 24

0 0 1 28  => z = 28
(b) Therefore the cost
for concert : RM 35 per ticket
for orchestral : RM 24 per ticket
for opera : RM 28 per ticket

(c) The amount Hassan has to pay for the

tickets if he purchase 2 concert , 1
orchestral and 3 opera tickets
= 2(35) + 1(24) + 3(28) = RM 178.00
 CONCLUSION
Procedure :
Reduced
Augmented
Augmented
Matrix
Matrix

[A B]  [I X]
COEFFICIENT COLUMN
MATRIX MATRIX

IDENTITY SOLUTION
MATRIX MATRIX
 PART 4: Cramer’s Rule
OBJECTIVE :

At the end of the lesson,

Type equation here.students

should be able to :
(a) Apply the Cramer’s Rule to
solve AX = B
 C. Using the Cramer’s Rules in solving
Systems of Linear Equations
Cramer’s Rule
Consider :
 a11 a12 a13   x1   b1 
a    b 
a22 a23  x 2   2
 21  =
a31 a32 a33   x 3  b3 
A X = B

Step 1:Find the A

 STEP 2 : To determine x1 , replace the
first column of A by the entries
of B
a11 a12 a13
x1 = a21 a22 a23
a31 a23 a33
 b1 A
B=  
b2
 
 b3
STEP 3 : To determine x2 , replace the
second column of A by the
entries of B

a11 a12 a13

x2 = a21 a22 a23
a31 a32 a33
 b1 A
B=  
b2
 
 b3
STEP 4 : To determine x3 , replace the
third column of A by the
entries of B

a11 a12 a13

x3 =
a21 a22 a23
a31 a23 a33
 b1 
B  b2  A
=
 
 b3 
 Cramer Rules

A1 A2
x1 = x2 =
A A

A3
x3 =
A
Example 1
Solve the following system using
Cramer’s Rule

x1 - x 2 +2x 3 =3
x1 +x 2 -3x 3 =-11
2x1 +3x 2 +x 3 =9
 Solution

Write the system in form of AX = B

1 − 1 2   x1   3 
A = 1 
1 −3 X= x  B =  − 11
   2  
 2 3 1   x 3   9 
Find the determinant of A

1 −3 -1 2 -1 2
A = 1 −1 +2
3 1 3 1 1 -3
= 1 ( 1 + 9) – 1 ( -1- 6 ) + 2 ( 3 - 2 )

= 10 + 7 + 2

= 19
By using x1 =
A1
3 
B= 
A

-11
−1 2 
9  
x1 =
1 −3 9 − 39 − 8
=
3 1 19
19 =
− 38
9( 3 − 2) − 3( −9 + 22) + 1( 3 − 11) 19
=
19 = -2
 By using A2
x2 =
1 3 2 A

x2 = 1 − 11 − 3
Entries of B
2 9 1
19
1( −11 + 27) − 1( 3 − 18) + 2( −9 + 22)
=
19
= 16 + 15 + 26 =
57 = 3
19 19
 1 −1 3 By using A3
x3 =
− 11
A
1 1
x3 =
2 3 9 Entries of B
19
1(9 + 33) − 1( −9 − 9) + 2(11 − 3)
=
19
=
42 + 18 + 16
19
76 So x1 = −2 x2 = 3 and x3 = 4
=
19 = 4
 Example 2

Zainun, Norashikin and Aishah

purchased text books from a book
shop. Zainun purchased an English
and a Mathematics text book for a total
of RM 226. Norashikin purchased RM
210 for a Mathematics and a Biology
text book. While Aishah spent RM 200
for an English and a Biology text book.
By using the Cramer’s Rule, find the
price for each text book.
 BOOK ENGLISH MATH BIOLOGY

ZAINUN 1 1 0

NORASHIKIN 0 1 1

AISHAH 1 0 1
Let x = The price of English text book
y = The price of Math text book
z = The price of Biology text book
Write the system in form of AX = B

1 1 0  x  226
0 1 1  y  = 210
    
1 0 1  z  200
A X = B
REMEMBER

A1 A2
x1 = x2 =
A A

A3
x3 =
A
A= 2, 226226
1 0 B = 210
210
x1 = 1 1 200
200
0 1
A1
2 By using x1 =
A
= 216
2
= 108 Entries of B
 1 0
x2 = 0 1 Entries of B

1 1
226
226
2 210
B =210
236  
= 200
2 200

By using A2
= 118 x2 =
A
 1 1 Entries of B

x3 = 0 1
1 0
226
226
2 210
B =210
 
184 200
= 200
2
By using A3
= 92 x3 =
A
 CONCLUSION OF CRAMER’S RULE

A1 A2
x1 = x2 =
A A

A3
x3 =
A
 REMEMBER!

The consistent system can be solved using:

A. The inverse matrix method

B. The Gauss - Jordan Elimination method
C. Cramer’s Rule