Elementary Linear Algebra 7th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1-13311-087-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-13311-087-3

Chapter 1 - Systems of Linear Equations - Review Exercises - Page 36: 44

Answer

$x_1=-\frac{3t}{2},x_2=\frac{5t}{2},x_3=t$

Work Step by Step

We have the following system: $2x_1+4x_2-7x_3=0,..(1)\\ x_1-3x_2+9x_3=0,(2)$ Subtracting twice equation $(2)$ from $(1)$: $(2x_1+4x_2-7x_3=0 )-2(x_1-3x_2+9x_3=0)\\ \Rightarrow 4x_2+6x_2-7x_3-18x_3=0\\ \Rightarrow 10x_2-25x_3=0\\ \Rightarrow x_2=\frac{5}{2} x_3 $ Put this in equation$(2)$: $x_1-3\frac{5x_3}{2}+9x_3=0\\ \Rightarrow x_1+\frac{3x_3}{2}=0\\ \Rightarrow x_1=-\frac{3x_3}{2}$ This means that $x_3$ is a free variable. Therefore, let $x_3=t$. Then the solution is given by: $x_1=-\frac{3t}{2},x_2=\frac{5t}{2},x_3=t$
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