Chapter 4.

4
Solving Systems of Equations
by MATRICES

Objectives
Use matrices to solve a system of two
equations.
Use matrices to solve a system of three
equations.

What is a matrix?

A matrix (plural: matrices) is a rectangular

array of numbers. The following are
examples of matrices:
a11 a12

a
a
21 22

1 0

0
1

2 1 3

0 1 4

6
3
1

Matrices

The numbers aligned horizontally in a

matrix are in the same row. The numbers
aligned vertically are in the same column.
row 1

row 2

2 1 0
1 6 2

column column column

2
3
1

This matrix has 2

rows and 3 columns.
It is called a 2 X 3
(read two by three)
matrix.

How do equations and matrices

relate?
System of Equations
(in standard form)

2 x 3 y 6

x y0

Corresponding
Matrix

2
1

3 6

1 0

The rows of the matrix correspond to the equations in the system. The
Coefficients of each variable are placed to the left of the vertical dashed line.
Matrices are a shorthand notation for representing systems of equations.

Elementary Row Operations

Any two rows in a matrix may be interchanged.

The elements of any row may be multiplied (or
divided) by the same nonzero number.
The elements of any row may be multiplied (or
divided) by a nonzero number and added to their
corresponding elements in any other row.
Notice

that these row operations are the same

operations that we can perform on equations in a
system.

Solving a system of 2 equations by

matrices
Matrix
1 2

0 1

System of Equations
3

1x 2 y 3

0 x 1y 5

or

x 2 y 3

y 5

In the second equation, we have y = 5. Substituting this in

the first equation, we have x + 2(5) = -3 or x = - 13. The
solution of the system in ordered pair is ( -13, 5)

Example 1:

Use matrices to solve the system:

x 3y 5

2 x y 4

Step 1: Set up the corresponding matrix

1 3 5
2 1 4

Example 1: Continued

1 3 5
2 1 4

Step 2: Use elementary row operations to write an equivalent matrix that

looks like:

1
0

b
c

In the given matrix, the element in the first row is already 1, as desired.
Next we write an equivalent matrix with a 0 below the 1. To do this, we
multiply row 1 by -2 and add to row 2. We will change only row 2.

2(1) 2
Row 1
element

Row 2
element

3
2(3) 1

5
Simplifies to: 1 3

0 7 14
2(5) 4

Row 2
Row 1 Row 2 Row 1
element element element element

5
1 3
0 7 14

Example 1: Continued

Step 3: Now we change -7 to a 1 by use

of an elementary row operation. We dived
row 2 by -7
1

0
7

3
7
7

5
1

14 simplifies to
0

3
1

5
2

Example 1: Continued

1
0

3
1

5
2

The last matrix corresponds to the system:

x 3y 5

y 2

To find x, we let y = 2 in the first equation.

x + 3(2) = 5
x = -1

The ordered pair solution is (-1, 2). Check to see that this
ordered pair satisfies the equations.

Lets try another one!

x 2y 4

2 x 3 y 13

Use matrices to solve:

Step 1: Set up matrix

1 2 4
2 3 13

Simply take the coefficient

from each variable

1 a
0 1

b
c

Step 2: Write an equivalent matrix that looks like:

To do this, multiply the first row by -2 and add to row 2. Leave row 1 the
same!

2(1) 2

2
2(2) 3

1
simplifies to
0

2
7

2(4) 13
4
21

Lets try another one!

Step 3: Now change the -7 to 1 by using elementary row operation.

We divide row 2 by -7

1
2

0 7
7 7

21
7

1 2
simplifies to
0 1

4
3

Step 4: Write the system that corresponds to the matrix:

x 2y 4

y 3

Step 5: Substitute to find the unknown variable.

The ordered pair solution
x + 2y = -4
is (2, -3)
x + 2 (-3) = -4
x 6 = -4
x=2

Give it a try!

Use matrices to solve: x y 1

x 2 y 4

Solution: (2, -1)

Example 2:
2 x y 3
Use matrices to solve the system:

4 x 2 y 5

Step 1: Set up a corresponding matrix

2
4

3
5

Step 2: To get 1 in the row 1, column 1 position,

we divide the elements of row 1 by 2.
2

2
4

1
2
2

2 simplifies to

5
4

2
2

3
2

Example 2 Continued

Step 3: To get 0 under 1, we multiply the elements of

row 1 by -4 and add the new elements to the elements of
row 2.

4(1) 4

1
2
1
4( ) 2
2

3
4( ) 5
2

simplifies to
1
3

2
2

0 1
0

Step 4: Write a
corresponding
system:

1
3

x y
2
2

0 1

The equation 0 = -1 is false for all y or x values; hence the

system has no solution!

Concept Check:

Consider the system 2 x 3 y 8

What is wrong with the corresponding

matrix shown below?

x 5y 3

2
0

Answer bottom left on page 251

3
5

8
3

Give it a try!

Use matrices to solve: 3x y 0

6x 2 y 2

Solution: Null Set

Solving a system of three equation

in three variables using matrices

The matrix must be written in the following

form:

1
0

e
f

Example 3

Use matrices to solve the system:

x 2y z 2

2 x y 2 z 5
x 3y 2z 8

Step 1: Set up a corresponding matrix

2
1
2
1
2 1

2
5

1
3 2 8

Our goal is to write an equivalent matrix with 1s along the diagonalsee

the numbers in red and 0s below the 1s. The element in row 1, column 1
is already 1. Next we get 0s for each element in the rest of column 1. The
numbers in blue need to get changed to zeros.

Example 3: Continued

Step 2: Multiply the elements in row 1 by 2 and add the

new elements to row 2. Multiply the elements of row 1 by
-1 and add the new elements to the elements of row 3.
We do not change row 1!

Green =
Row 1
Pink = #
multiplied
by

2(1) 2
1(1) 1

2 2 1
1(2) 3

2(1) 2
1(1) 2

simplifies to
1 2 1
0 3 4

0 1 3

9
10

2(2) 5
1(2) 8

Example 3 Continued

Step 4: We continue down the diagonal and use

elementary row operations to get 1 where the element 3 is
now. To do this, we interchange rows 2 and 3.
1 2 1
0 3 4

0 1 3

2
9
10

is equivalent to

1 2 1
0 1 3

0 3 4

2
10
9

Example 3: Continued

Step 5: Next we want the new row 3, column 2 element to be 0. We

multiply the elements of row 2 by -3 and add the result to the
elements of row 3.

Green =
Row 2
Pink = #
multiplied
by

3 0 0

2
1

1
3

3(1) 3

3(3) 4

3(10) 9

simplifies to
1
0

2
1
0

3 10
13 39
1

2
10

Example 3: Continued

Step 6: Finally, we divide the elements of row 3 by 13 so

that the final diagonal element is 1.
1
0

13

1
2
3 10
13 39

13 13 13
2
1
0

simplifies to
2
1 2 1
0 1 3 10

0 0 1
3

Step 7: Write the system that corresponds

to the matrix.

x 2 y z 2

y 3 z 10

z 3

nd

Step 8: Substitute z = 3 into the 2 equation

y 3(3) = -10
y 9 = -10
y = -1
Step 9: Substitute z =3 and y = -1 into the 1st equation
x + 2(-1) + 3 = 2
x2+3=2
Ordered triple
x+1=2
solution:
x=1
(1, -1, 3)

Give it a try!

Use matrices to solve:

x 3y z 5

3 x y 3z 5
x 2 y 2z 9

Ordered triple solution: (1, 2, -2)