Rank method:

(i).Non-homogeneous system of linear equation

Let A.X = B be the system of non homogeneous system of ‘m’ equations in ‘n’
unknowns
(1) If
ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) = number of unknowns then system of equations has unique solution
(2)If
ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) < number of unknowns then system of equations has infinite number
of solutions
(3) If ρ ( A) ≠ ρ ([A B ]) then the system of equations has no solution
Method of finding rank of A and rank of [A B ] : Reduce the augmented matrix [A B ] into
echelon form by applying elementary row operations, the matrix A shall automatically be
reduced into the echelon form
i.e. in order to find rank of A and rank of [A B ] , it is enough to reduce the matrix [A B ]
into echelon form
(ii) Homogeneous system of linear equations
Let A.X =O be the homogeneous system of ‘m’ equations in ‘n’ unknowns
1. If
ρ ( A) = number of unknowns then system of equations has unique solution (trivial
solution)
2. If ρ ( A) < number of unknowns then system of equations has infinite number of
solutions
in which trivial solution is the one of its solutions
Note: 1. let ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) = r and number of unknowns in the system is ‘n’
As I said, if r<n then the system of equations A.X = B has infinite number of
solutions.
In this case we have to give (n-r) arbitrary constants to (n-r) variables and the
remaining
variables can be expressed in terms of these arbitrary constants
2. If number of equations< number of unknowns in the system then the system has
infinite
number of solutions

@@SATYA@@
Example: 1.Test for consistency and hence solve
x + y + z = 6, x − y + 2 z = 5, 3 x + y + z = 8, 2 x − 2 y + 3 z = 7
Solution: The matrix form of the given system of equations is given by A.X = B where
 1 1 1 6
 
 1 −1 2 5
Now the augmented matrix is [A B ] =
 3 1 1 8
 
 2 − 2 3 7
R2 : R2 − R1 , R3 : R3 − 3R1 , R4 : R4 − 2 R1

1 1 1 6 
 
≈ 0 −2 1 −1 
R : R − R 2 , R 4 : R 4 − 2 R2
0 −2 − 2 −10 3 3
 
 0 −4 1 − 5 
1 1 1 6
 
≈ 0 −2 1 −1
R : 3 R − R3
0 0 −3 −9 4
 
 0 0 −1 −3
1 1 1 6
 
 0 − 2 1 −1
≈ …………………… (1)
0 0 −3 − 9
 
 0 0 0 0 
The above equivalent matrix is the echelon form of [A B ]
And ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) = 3 = number of unknowns
∴ A.X = B is consistent and it has unique solution
The unique solution can be obtained taking equivalent system
1 1 1   6
0 − 2 1   x   − 1 
The equivalent system of A.X = B is given by   .  y =  
0 0 − 3     − 9 
   z   
0 0 0   0
x+ y+z = 6
⇒ − 2 y + z = −1
− 3 z = −9

@@SATYA@@
 By back substitution
z=3
y=2
x =1
∴The unique solution of the given system is x = 1, y = 2, z = 3

Example: 2. Test for consistency and hence solve

x + 2 y − z = 3, 3 x − y + 2 z = 1, 2 x − 2 y + 3 z = 2, x − y + z = −1
Solution: The matrix form of the given system of equations is given by A.X = B where
1 2 −1 3 
 
 3 −1 2 1 
Now the augmented matrix is [A B ] =
 2 −2 3 2 
 
 1 −1 1 −1
R2 : R2 − 3R1 , R3 : R3 − 2 R1 , R4 : R4 − R1

1 2 −1 3 
 
≈ 0 −7 5 −8
R : 7 R3 − 6 R 2 , R 4 : 7 R 4 − 3 R 2
0 −6 5 − 4 3
 
 0 −3 2 − 4
1 2 −1 3 
 
≈ 0 −7 5 −8
R : 5 R + R3
0 0 5 20 4
 
 0 0 −1 − 4
1 2 −1 3 
 
≈ 0 −7 5 −8
…………………… (1)
0 0 5 20
 
 0 0 0 0 
The above equivalent matrix is the echelon form of [A B ]
And ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) = 3 = number of unknowns
∴ A.X = B is consistent and it has unique solution
The unique solution can be obtained taking equivalent system

@@SATYA@@
 1 2 −1  3
 0 − 7 5   x   − 8
The equivalent system of A.X = B is given by   .  y =  
0 0 5    20 
   z   
0 0 0   0
x + 2y − z = 3
⇒ − 7 y + 5 z = −8
5 z = 20
By back substitution
z=4
y=4
x = −1
∴The unique solution of the given system is x = −1, y = 4, z = 4
Example: 3. Test for consistency and hence solve

4 x − y + 6 z = 16, x − 4 y − 3 z = −16, 2 x + 7 y + 12 z = 48, 5 x − 5 y + 3 z = 0

Solution: The matrix form of the given system of equations is given by A.X = B where
4 −1 6 16 
 
1 − 4 − 3 −16
Now the augmented matrix is [A B ] =  R ↔ R2
2 7 12 48 1
 
 5 −5 3 0 
 1 − 4 −3 −16
 
 4 −1 6 16 
2 7 12 48 
 
 5 − 5 3 0 
R2 : R2 − 4 R1 , R3 : R3 − 2 R1 , R4 : R4 − 5 R1

1 −4 − 3 −16
 
≈ 0 15 18 80
R : R − R2 , R4 : R4 − R2
0 15 18 80 3 3
 
 0 15 18 80
1 −4 − 3 −16
 
≈ 0 15 18 80
0 0 0 0
 
 0 0 0 0 
The above equivalent matrix is the echelon form of [A B ]

@@SATYA@@
 And ρ ( A) = ρ ([A B ]) = 2 <3(=number of unknowns)
∴The given system of equations A.X = B has infinite number of solutions
For finding these infinite numbers of solutions, we have to give (n-r) arbitrary
constants to (n-r)
variables and the remaining variables can be expressed in terms of these arbitrary
constants
i.e. we have to give one arbitrary constants to one variables and the remaining
variables
can be expressed in terms of these arbitrary constants

∴ A.X = B is consistent and it has infinite number of solutions

The infinite number of solution can be obtained taking equivalent system
1 − 4 − 3  − 16
0 15 x  
 18     80 

The equivalent system of A.X = B is given by . y =
0 0 0    0 
   z   
 0 0 0   0 
x − 4 y − 3 z = − 16
⇒ 15 y + 18 z = 80

Choose z=k, then by back substitution

80 − 18k
y=
15
 80 − 18k 
x = −16 + 3k + 4 
 15 
∴The infinite numbers of solution of the given system are
−9 16 16 6
x= k+ ,y = − k, z = k
5 3 3 5

@@SATYA@@