Linear Systems with Two Unknowns Geometrically

Linear systems in two unknowns arise in connection with intersections of lines. For
example, consider the linear system

𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 𝑐1
{ 1
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2

in which the graphs of the equations are lines in the 𝑥𝑦-plane. Each solution (𝑥, 𝑦) of this
system corresponds to a point of intersection of the lines, so there are three possibilities:

1. The lines may be parallel and distinct, in which

case there is no intersection and consequently
no solution.

2. The lines may intersect at only one point, in which

case the system has exactly one solution.

3. The lines may coincide, in which case there are

infinitely many points of intersection (the points on the
common line) and consequently infinitely many
solutions.

EXAMPLE 1 A Linear System with One Solution

Solve the linear system

𝑥−𝑦 =1
{
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 6

Solution
We want to eliminate x from the second equation by adding −2 times the first equation to
the second.
2𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 2
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 6
- - -
---------------------------
−3𝑦 = −4
4
𝑦=
3
4
Put 𝑦 = in the first equation we obtain
3
4 7
𝑥 =1+𝑦=1+ =
3 3
Thus, the system has the unique solution
7 4
𝑥= , 𝑦=
3 3
Geometrically, this means that the lines represented by the equations in the system
7 4
intersect at the single point ( , ) .
3 3

y
EXAMPLE 2 A Linear System with No Solutions:
Solve the linear system
𝑥+𝑦 =4
{
3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 6

Solution: We can eliminate x from the second equation by adding −3 times the first
equation to the second equation.

3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 12
3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 6
- - -
-----------------------------------
0=6
This is not possible, so the given system has no solution. Geometrically, this means that
the lines corresponding to the equations in the original system are parallel and distinct.

Graphically, it shows that the lines have the same slope but different y-intercepts.
EXAMPLE 3 A Linear System with Infinitely many Solutions

Solve the linear system

4𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 1
{
16𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 4
Solution: We can eliminate x from the second equation by adding −4 times the first
equation to the second.
16𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 4
16𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 4
- + -
------------------------------------
0=0
Thus, the solutions of the system are those values of x and y that satisfy the single
equation. Let 𝑦 = 𝑡, So
1 1
𝑥= + 𝑡
4 2
1 1
( + 𝑡, 𝑡) , 𝑡 ∈ ℝ is solution of given system.
4 2

We can obtain specific numerical solutions from these equations by substituting

1
numerical values for the parameter 𝑡. For example, 𝑡 = 0, yields the solution ( , 0), 𝑡 =
4
3
1, yields the solution( , 1).
4
 Linear Systems with Three Unknowns Geometrically

The same is true for a linear system of three equations in three unknowns
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 + 𝑐1 𝑧 = 𝑑1
{𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑐2 𝑧 = 𝑑2
𝑎3 𝑥 + 𝑏3 𝑦 + 𝑐3 𝑧 = 𝑑3

in which the graphs of the equations are planes. The solutions of the system, if any,
correspond to points where all three planes intersect, so again we see that there are
only three possibilities—no solutions, one solution, or infinitely many solutions:
Important Note!
Every system of linear equations has zero, one, or infinitely many solutions. There are
no other possibilities.

EXAMPLE 4 Solve the linear system

𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 9 ⇢ (1)
{2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 1 ⇢ (2)
3𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0 ⇢ (3)
Solution:
Using (1) and (2)
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 18
+2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 1
- - + -
------------------------------------------------------
−2𝑦 + 7𝑧 = 17 ⇢ (4)
Using (1) and (3)

3𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 27
+3𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0
- - + -
 ------------------------------------------------------
−3𝑦 + 11𝑧 = 27 ⇢ (5)
Using (4) and (5)
−6𝑦 + 21𝑧 = 51
−6𝑦 + 22𝑧 = 54
+ - -
------------------------------------------------------
−𝑧 = −3
𝑧=3
Put 𝑧 = 3 in equation (4)
−2𝑦 + 7(3) = 17
−2𝑦 + 2 = 17
𝑦=2

Put 𝑦 = 2 and 𝑧 = 3 in equation (1).

𝑥 = 9 − 2 − 2(3)
𝑥=1
So the solution of given system is (1, 2, 3), which is unique.
Geometrically it represents that three planes intersect at unique point.

EXAMPLE 5

Solve the linear system

𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 5
{2𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 4𝑧 = 10
3𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 15
Solution:

This system can be solved by inspection, since the second and third equations are
multiples of the first. Geometrically, this means that the three planes coincide and that
those values of x, y, and z that satisfy the equation

𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 5 → (1)

Automatically satisfy all three equations. Thus, it suffices to find the solutions of (1).
We can do this by first solving (1) for x in terms of y and z, then assigning arbitrary
values 𝑠 and 𝑡 (parameters) to these two variables and then expressing the solution by
the three parametric equations
𝑦 = 𝑡, 𝑧 = 𝑠 ⇒ 𝑥 = 5 + 𝑡 − 2𝑠
So (5 + 𝑡 − 2𝑠, 𝑡, 𝑠) is the solution of the above system.
 Specific solutions can be obtained by choosing numerical values for the parameters t
and s. For example, taking 𝑡 = 1 and 𝑠 = 0 yields the solution (6, 1,0).

Work to do

Q. Solve the following linear system of equations:

2𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 6𝑧 = −12
{ 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 15
3𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 5𝑧 = −8

Exercise 1.1 Q 6-14

9. In each part, find the solution set of the linear equation by using parameters as
necessary.
a) 7𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 3
b) −8𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 − 5𝑥3 + 6𝑥4 = 1

Homogeneous Linear System

A system of linear equation is said to be homogeneous if it’s constant term is equal to
zero. For example
3𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 0
−2𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 0
  Every system of linear equations is consistent because all such systems have 𝑥 =
0, 𝑦 = 0 as a solution. This solution is called trivial solution. If there are other
solutions, they are called non trivial solutions.
 A homogenous system always has the trivial solution. There are only two
possibilities for its solutions:

1. The system has only the trivial solution.

2. The system has infinite many solutions in addition to the trivial solutions (This
happened when the system involves more unknown than equations).
 A homogeneous linear system of two equations in two unknowns are of the form
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 0
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 0
 The graph of the equations are the lines through the origin.

Q14.

Q. In parts (a)–(h) determine whether the statement is true or false, justify your answer.
(a) A linear system whose equations are all homogeneous must be consistent.
(b) Multiplying a linear equation through by zero is an acceptable elementary row
operation.
(c) The linear system

cannot have a unique solution, regardless of the value of k.

(d) A single linear equation with two or more unknowns must always have infinitely
many solutions.
(e) If the number of equations in a linear system exceeds the number of unknowns, then
the system must be inconsistent.
(f) If each equation in a consistent linear system is multiplied through by a constant c,
then all solutions to the new system can be obtained by multiplying solutions from
the original system by c.
(g) Elementary row operations permit one equation in a linear system to be subtracted
from another.
(h) The linear system with corresponding augmented matrix

is consistent.