Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 4th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 0030105676
ISBN 13: 978-0-03010-567-8

Chapter 1 - Section 1.3 - An Example of Gaussian Elimination - Problem Set - Page 16: 9

Answer

$b_2=2(b_1)$

Work Step by Step

Given, $ 3x-2y =b_1 \\6x-4y=b_2 $ The equation for the two lines can be rewritten as $y=(3/2)x-b_1/2\\y=(3/2)x-b_2/4$ We can see that the two lines are parallel since they have equal slopes. This implies that these lines do not have any point of intersection unless they overlap which will result in infinitely many solutions. Thus the lines will overlap when the y-intercepts are equal- $b_1/2=b_2/4$ or $b_2=2b_1$ The column picture is as follows - $x\begin{bmatrix}3\\6\end{bmatrix}-y\begin{bmatrix}2\\4\end{bmatrix}=\begin{bmatrix}b_1\\b_2\end{bmatrix}$
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