ELEMENTARY ROW

OPERATIONS

Math 312
Adv. Eng’g Math
Definition: Augmented
Matrix
• A matrix derived from a system of
linear equations in standard form is
the augmented matrix of the system.

• The matrix that is derived from the

coefficients of the system but does
not include the constant terms is the
coefficient matrix of the system.
Example Notice the coefficients of
the system equations are
now in the matrix below
• System x – 4y + 3z = 5
-x + 3y – z = -3
2x -4z = 6
é 1 -4 3 ù
• Coefficient Matrix
ê ú
ê -1 3 -1 ú
• Augmented Matrix ê 2 0 -4 ú
ë û
é 1 -4 3 | 5 ù
ê ú Note the use of 0 for the missing
y-variable in the 3rd equation, and
ê -1 -3 -1 | -3 ú also note the fourth column of
ê ú constant terms in the augmened
ê 2 0 4 | 6 ú
ë û matrix.
When forming either the coefficient or the augmented
matrix of a system, begin by vertically aligning the
variables in the equation.

• System x + 3y = 9
-y + 4z = -2
x – 5z = 0
• Augmented matrix
• Align variables
x + 3y =9 é 1 3 0 | 9 ù
- y + 4z = -2 ê ú
x - 5z = 0 ê 0 -1 4 | -2 ú
ê ú
ê 1 0 -5 | 0 ú
ë û
Note the use of 0 for the missing x-
variables in the 3 equations, and also
note the fourth column of constant
terms in the augmented matrix.
Any of the elementary row operations
below performed on an augmented matrix
will produce a matrix that is row-equivalent
to the original matrix.

Two matrices are row equivalent if one

can be obtained from the other by a
sequence of elementary row operations.

1. Interchange two rows.

2. Multiply a row by a nonzero constant.
3. Add a multiple of a row to another row.
 Study Tip
• Although elementary row operations are
simple to perform, they involve a lot of
arithmetic. Because it is easy to make a
mistake, you should get in the habit of noting
the elementary row operations performed in
each step so that you can go back and check
your work.
 Study Tip
• People use different schemes to denote which
elementary row operations have been
performed. The scheme that is used in this
text is to write an abbreviated version of the
row operation of the row that has been
changed (indicated in blue.)
 Interchange the first and second rows.

Original matrix é 0 1 3 4 ù
ê ú
ê -1 2 0 3 ú
ê 2 -3 4 1 ú
ë û R2

New Row-
equivalent matrix
é -1 2 0 3 ù
ê ú R1
ê 0 1 3 4 ú
ê 2 -3 4 1 ú
ë û
 Multiply the first row by ½ .
Original matrix é 2 -4 6 -2 ù
ê ú
ê 1 3 -3 0 ú
ê 5 -2 1 2 ú
ë û

½ R1
New Row- é 1 -2 3 -1 ù
equivalent matrix
ê ú
ê1 3 -3 0 ú
ê 5 -2 1 2 ú
ë û
 Add -2 times the 1st row to the 3rd row.
Original matrix é 1 2 -4 3 ù
ê ú
ê 0 3 -2 -1 ú
ê 2 1 5 -2 ú
ë û

-2R1+R3
New Row- é 1 2 -4 3 ù
equivalent matrix
ê ú
ê 0 3 -2 -1 ú
ê 0 - 3 13 - 8 ú
ë û
 Add 6 times the 1st row to the 2nd row.
Original matrix
é 1 2 2 -4 ù
ê ú
ê - 6 - 11 3 18 ú
ê 0 0 4 7 ú
ë û

6R1+R2
New Row- é 1 2 2 -4 ù
equivalent matrix
ê ú
ê 0 1 15 - 6 ú
ê0 0 4 7 ú
ë û
Example
Solving a System of Linear Equations

x – 2y + 2z = 9
Linear System -x + 3y = -4
2x – 5y + z = 10

é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
Associated ê -1 3 0 | -4 ú
Augmented ê ú
Matrix ê 2 - 5 1 | 10 ú
ë û
Add the 1st row to the 2nd
row
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê -1 3 0 | -4 ú
ê ú
ê 2 - 5 1 | 10 ú
ë û

é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
R1 + R2  ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 2 - 5 1 | 10 ú
ë û
Add -2 times the 1st row to the 3rd
row
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 2 - 5 1 | 10 ú
ë û

é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
-2R1 + R3  ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 -1 -3 | -8 ú
ë û
Add the 2nd row to the 3rd row .
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 -1 -3 | -8 ú
ë û

é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
R2 + R3  ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 -1 | -3 ú
ë û
Multiply the third row by -1
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 -1 | -3 ú
ë û

é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
- R3  ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
Add -2 times the 3rd row to the 2nd
row.
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê0 1 2 | 5 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
-2R3_R2 
ê ú
ê 0 1 0 | -1 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
Add -2 times the 3rd row to the 1st
row.
é 1 -2 2 | 9 ù
ê ú
ê 0 1 0 | -1 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
é 1 -2 0 | 3 ù
-2R3_R1 
ê ú
ê 0 1 0 | -1 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
Add 2 times the 2nd row to the 1st
row.
é1 -2 0 | 3 ù
ê ú
ê0 1 0 | -1 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
é 1 0 0 | 1 ù
-2R3_R1  ê ú
ê0 1 0 | -1 ú
ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û
 The matrix is now in reduced row
echelon form.
é1 0 0 | 1 ù
The 1st 3 ê ú
ê 0 1 0 | -1 ú
columns now
represent a
unit matrix. ê ú
ê 0 0 1 | 3 ú
ë û

The numbers in the rightmost column

indicate the solutions.
x = 1, y= -1, z=3 or (1, -1, 3)