L-6

Linear equation:
By a linear equation over the real field R, we mean an expression of the form

𝑎𝑎1 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 𝑏𝑏

Where,𝑎𝑎𝑖𝑖 ,b ∈ R and the 𝑥𝑥𝑖𝑖 determinants (or unknowns or variables). 𝑎𝑎𝑖𝑖 are called the coefficient
of the x i and b is the constant term of the equation.

System of linear equation: Consider, a system of m linear equations in the unknowns x 1 ,……..,
xn:

𝑎𝑎11 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎12 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎1𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 𝑏𝑏1

𝑎𝑎21 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎22 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 𝑏𝑏2

…………………………………

𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚1 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 𝑏𝑏𝑚𝑚 ………..1

Where, a ij ,b i belong to the real field R.

The system of equations

𝑎𝑎11 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎12 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎1𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 0

𝑎𝑎21 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎22 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 0

…………………………

𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚1 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 𝑥𝑥2 + ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛 = 0 …………….2

is called the homogeneous system.

Types of linear equations:

1. Consistent: A system of equations is said to be consistent, if they have one or more solution.

2. Inconsistent: If a system of equation has no solution, it is said to be inconsistent.

 System of linear equations

Inconsistent Consistent

No solution Unique solution More than one solution

System of Non-Homogeneous Linear Equations:

Non-homogeneous linear equation (1) in matrix form

AX = B
𝑎𝑎11 𝑎𝑎12 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎1𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥1
𝑎𝑎21 𝑎𝑎22 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥2
Where, A = � ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ � is the coefficient matrix of order × 𝑛𝑛 , 𝑋𝑋 = � ⋮ � is a matrix
𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚1 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛
𝑏𝑏1
𝑏𝑏2
of order 𝑛𝑛 × 1 and B = � � is a matrix of order 𝑚𝑚 × 1.
⋮
𝑏𝑏𝑚𝑚

Then the augmented matrix of given system of linear equation can be written as,

𝑎𝑎11 𝑎𝑎12 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎1𝑛𝑛 ∶ 𝑏𝑏1

𝑎𝑎21 𝑎𝑎22 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 ∶ 𝑏𝑏2
[𝐴𝐴 ∶ 𝐵𝐵] = � �
⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ∶ ⋮
𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚1 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 ∶ 𝑏𝑏𝑚𝑚

Consistency check:

A system of linear equation, AX = B is consistent if and only if

𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨) = 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨 ∶ 𝑩𝑩)

i. Unique solution: 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨) = 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨 ∶ 𝑩𝑩) = n (no. of unknown)

(In particular if A is a square matrix, then AX = B will have a unique solution if |𝑨𝑨| ≠ 𝟎𝟎.)

ii. Infinite solution: 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨) = 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨 ∶ 𝑩𝑩) < 𝑛𝑛

Now, if 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨) ≠ 𝝆𝝆(𝑨𝑨 ∶ 𝑩𝑩); equations are inconsistent and the system of linear equation has no
solutions.

System of Homogeneous linear Equations:

Homogeneous linear equation (2) in matrix form

AX = O
 𝑎𝑎11 𝑎𝑎12 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎1𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥1
𝑎𝑎21 𝑎𝑎22 ⋯ ⋯ 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥2
Where, A = � ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ � is the coefficient matrix of order × 𝑛𝑛 , X = � ⋮ � is the matrix
𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚1 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚2 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥𝑛𝑛
0
0
of order 𝑚𝑚 × 1 and O = � � is the matrix of order 𝑚𝑚 × 1.
⋮
0
A system of homogeneous linear equations always have one or more solutions. As r can not be
greater than n, then,

r = n or r< 𝑛𝑛

For case 1; i.e., r = n, AX= 0 will have no linearly independent solutions. Trival (zero) solution
is the only solution..i.e., X = 0, x 1 =x 2 =………= x n =0 (the only solution)

For case 2; i.e., r< 𝑛𝑛 , 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 0 will have (n-r) linearly independent solutions. (Non-trival
solution)(Infinite no. of solutions)

Cramer’s Rule: