Question #60834

4. a) The Gauss elimination method is used to solve the system of equations
6 x 4x x 1 + 2 + α 3 =
3 2x x 2 x 1 − 2 + α 3 =
5 x 3x x α 1 + 2 + 3 =
Find the value of α for which the system has (i) a unique solution (ii) no solution (iii)
infinitely many solutions

Expert's answer

Answer on Question #60834 – Math – Linear Algebra

Question

a) The Gauss elimination method is used to solve the system of equations


6×4×1+2+α3=3×2×12+α3=5×3×α×1+2+3=\begin{array}{l} 6 \times 4 \times 1 + 2 + \alpha 3 = \\ 3 \times 2 \times 1 - 2 + \alpha 3 = \\ 5 \times 3 \times \alpha \times 1 + 2 + 3 = \\ \end{array}


Find the value of α\alpha for which the system has

(i) a unique solution;

(ii) no solution;

(iii) infinitely many solutions.

Solution

We have the system of equation


{x1+4x2+αx3=6,2x1x2+2αx3=3,αx1+3x2+x3=5.\left\{ \begin{array}{l} x_1 + 4x_2 + \alpha x_3 = 6, \\ 2x_1 - x_2 + 2\alpha x_3 = 3, \\ \alpha x_1 + 3x_2 + x_3 = 5. \end{array} \right.


or in the form Ax=bAx = b

(14α212αα31)(x1x2x3)=(635).\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 2 & -1 & 2\alpha \\ \alpha & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \left( \begin{array}{c} x_1 \\ x_2 \\ x_3 \end{array} \right) = \left( \begin{array}{c} 6 \\ 3 \\ 5 \end{array} \right).


We shall use the Gauss elimination method to solve the system. So put the augmented matrix into the upper triangular form. Firstly, subtract the first row multiplied by 2 from the second row and divide the second row by 9-9:


(14α212αα31)(14α090α31)(14α010α31)(14α01006α)(14α01004α3α21)(6616α5).\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 2 & -1 & 2\alpha \\ \alpha & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \Rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & -9 & 0 \\ \alpha & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \Rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ \alpha & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \Rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 6\alpha \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 4\alpha - 3 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right) \Rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 6 & 6 \\ 1 \\ 6\alpha - 5 \end{array} \right).


Then subtract the first row multiplied by α\alpha from the third row and then divide the third row by (1)(-1):


(14α010α31)(14α010034α1α2)(14α01004α3α21)(16612α2).\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ \alpha & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 3 - 4\alpha & 1 - \alpha^2 \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 4\alpha - 3 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 6 & 6 \\ 1 & 2\alpha - 2 \end{array} \right).


In the next step we subtract the second row multiplied by (4α3)(4\alpha - 3) from the third row:


(14α01004α3α21)(14α01000α21)(66112α2).\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 4\alpha - 3 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right) \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 6 & 6 & 1 \\ 1 & 2\alpha - 2 \end{array} \right).


Then subtract the second row multiplied by 4 from the first row:


\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 4 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right| \quad \begin{array}{c} 6 \\ 1 \\ 2\alpha - 2 \end{array} \rightarrow \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 0 & \alpha \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \alpha^2 - 1 \end{array} \right| \quad \begin{array}{c} 2 \\ 1 \\ 2\alpha - 2 \end{array} \).


Now we need to find the value of α\alpha for which system has (i) unique solution.

From the third row it follows that


x3=2α2α21=2α+1,α±1.x_3 = \frac{2\alpha - 2}{\alpha^2 - 1} = \frac{2}{\alpha + 1}, \quad \alpha \neq \pm 1.


From the second row it follows that


x2=1.x_2 = 1.


From the first row it follows that


x1+2αα+1=2;x_1 + \frac{2\alpha}{\alpha + 1} = 2;x1=22αα+1=2α+22αα+1=2α+1.x_1 = 2 - \frac{2\alpha}{\alpha + 1} = \frac{2\alpha + 2 - 2\alpha}{\alpha + 1} = \frac{2}{\alpha + 1}.


So if α±1\alpha \neq \pm 1, we have the unique solution.

(iii) If α=1\alpha = 1, then the system will be


\left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{array} \right| \quad \begin{array}{c} 2 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{array} \).


In other words, we have only two equations for three variables. In this case the system has infinitely many solutions.

(ii) If α=1\alpha = -1, then the system has no solution, because the third row yields 0=40 = -4, which is false.

Answer: (i) αR{1,1}\alpha \in \mathbb{R} \setminus \{-1, 1\}, (ii) α=1\alpha = -1, (iii) α=1\alpha = 1.

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