January 23, 2019

MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMICS II (2018-19)

ECONOMICS, LAW–ECONOMICS, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES–ECONOMICS

SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

(1) Compute the following

 determinants:
   
 1 2 3   3 −2 1   1 2 4 
     
a)  1 1 −1  b)  3 1 5  c)  1 −2 4 

 2 0 5   3 4 5   1 2 −4 
Solution: subtract solution to a) is −15, to part b) is −36 and to part c) is 32.
   
 a b c   2a 2c 2b 
   
(2) Use that  p q r  = 25, to compute the value of  2u 2w
  2v .

 u v w   2p 2r 2q 
Solution: In the determinant,
 
 2a 2c 2b 
 
 2u 2w 2v 
 
 2p 2r 2q 

we take out the common number 2 in each row,

 
 a c b 
3
 
2  u w v 

 p r q 

Now swap columns 2 and 3

 
 a b c 
3
 
−2  u v w 

 p q r 
Finally, swap rows 2 and 3,
 
 a b c 
23  p  = 23 × 25 = 200
 
q r 
 u v w 

(3) Verify the following identities

  without expanding
 the determinants:

 1
 a2 a3   bc
  a a2   1 a b+c 
 
a)  1 b2 b3  =  ca
  b b2  b)  1 b c + a  = 0
 1 c2 c3   ab c c2   1 c a+b 
Solution: a): In the determinant
 
 bc
 a a2 
 ac
 b b2 
 ab c c2 
we multiply and divide by a to obtain
   
 bc a a2  1  abc
  a2 a3 
1  
a ac b b2  =  ac b b2 
a   a 
ab c c2   ab c c2 
1
2 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

Now, we do the same procedure with b, and we observe that the determinant is the same as
 
 abc a2 a3 
1  
abc b2 b3 
ab 

ab c c2 
likewise with c,  
 abc a2 a3 
1  
abc b2 b3 
abc 
abc c2 c3 
Taking out abc in the first column, the last expression equals
   
 1 a2 a3   1 a2 a3 
1    
abc  1 b2 b3  =  1 b2 b3 
abc  1 c2 c3   1 c2 c3 

b): Adding the second column to the third,

 
 1 a b+c 
 
 1 b a+c 
 
 1 c a+b 
we obtain    
 1 a a + b + c   1 a 1 
  
 1 b a + b + c  = (a + b + c)  1 b 1 =0
 
 1 c a+b+c   1 c 1 
since columns 1 and 3 are the same.

(4) Solve
 the following
 equation using the properties of the determinants:
 a b c 
 
 a x c =0
 
 a b x 
Solution: We must assume that a 6= 0. Otherwise, the determinant is 0 for every real
number x. Since,    
 a b c   1 b c 
   
 a x c  = a 1 x c 
   
 a b x   1 b x 
the statement is equivalent (assuming a 6= 0) to
 
 1 b c 

 1 x c  = 0

 1 b x 
We subtract the first row to the second and third rows to obtain the following equation,
ecuación  

 1 b c 
0 =  0 x−b 0  = (x − b)(x − c)
 0 0 x−c 
Hence, the solutions are x = b y x = c.

(5) Simplify and compute the following expressions:   

   x x x x   0 1 1 1 
 ab 2b2 −bc  
 x a a a
  
   1 0 1 1 
a)  a2 c 3abc 0   b)   c)  
 x a b b 1 1 0 1
 
 2ac 5bc 2c2   x a b c
  
  1 1 1 0 
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 3

Solution: a): In the determinant

 
 ab
 2 2b2 −bc 
 a c 3abc 0 

 2ac 5bc 2c2 
we take out a in the first column, b in the second one and c in the third one,
 
 b
 2b −b 
abc  ac 3ac 0 
 2c 5c 2c 
and now we take out b in the first row, a in the second one and c in the third row,
 
 1 2 −1 
a2 b2 c2  c 3c 0 
 
 2 5 2 
Finally, we take out c in the second row
 
 1 2 −1 
a2 b2 c3  1 3 0  = 3a2 b2 c3
 
 2 5 2 

b): In the determinant  


 x x x x 

 x a a a 


 x a b b 

 x a b c 
we take out x in the first row
 

 1 1 1 1 

 x a a a 
x  
 x a b b 

 x a b c 
Now we subtract the first row times x, from the other rows,
 
 1 1 1 1 

 0 a−x a−x a − x 
x 
 0 a−x b−x b − x 
 0 a−x b−x c−x 
Expand now the determinant using the first column,
 
 a−x a−x a−x 
 
x  a − x b − x b − x 

 a−x b−x c−x 
Subtract the first row from the other rows
 
 a−x a−x a − x 

x  0 b−a b − a 
 0 b−a c−a 
we take out a − x in the first row
 
 1 1 1 
 
x(a − x)  0 b−a b−a 

 0 b−a c−a 
Expand now the determinant using the first column,
   
 b−a b−a 
 = x(a − x)(b − a)  1 1
 
x(a − x)   = x(a − x)(b − a)(c − b)
b−a c−a   b−a c−a 
4 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

where we have taken out b − a in the first row.

c): In the determinant  
0 1 1 1 


1 0 1 1 

 

1 1 0 1 



1 1 1 0 

we subtract the last row from rows 2 and 3 and we expand it using the first column
 
 0 1 1 1   
  1 1 1 
 0 −1 0 1  
 0 0 −1 1  = −  −1 0 1 
   
   0 −1 1 
 1 1 1 0 
we add now the first row to the second one and expand using the first column again,
 

 1 1 1  
 1 2 

−  0 1 2  = −   = −(1 + 2) = −3
−1 1 
 0 −1 1 

(6) Let A be a square matrix of order n × n such that AT A = In . Show that |A| = ±1.

Solution: Note that 1 = |I| = |At A| = |At ||A| = |A|2 . Hence, |A|2 = 1 and the only
possible values for the determinant are |A| = 1 o |A| = −1.

(7) Find the

 rank of thefollowing matrices:
 
1 1 1 1 1 2 1
A =  2 −1 1  B= 2 1 0 1 
4 1 3 −1 0 2 1
Solution: The rank  
1 1 1
rg A = rg  2 −1 1 
4 1 3
is the same as
   
1 1 1 1 1 1
rg  0 −3 −1  = rg  0 −3 −1  = 2.
0 −3 −1 0 0 0
On the other hand,
     
1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
rg  2 1 0 1  = rg  0 −1 −4 −1  = rg  0 −1 −4 −1  = 3
−1 0 2 1 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 1

(8) Study 
the rank of the following matrices, depending on the possible values of x:
x2

x 0 1
x x2
   
 1 x x3
2 1 x −1 0 1
x 
A=  0 0
 B =  1 2 4  C= 0 x −1 1 
1 0 
1 3 9 1 0 −1 2
0 1 x 0
Solution: We compute first the rank of A.
 
 1 x2 x3   
 0 1 
 0 0 1  =  = −1
 1 x 
 0 1 x 
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 5

so rg A ≥ 3 for any value of x. Expanding the determinant of A using the third row
 
 x 0 1 

|A| =  1 x2 x 
 0 1 0 
Now we expand the determinant using row 3
 
 x 1 
|A| = − 
  = −(x2 − 1)
1 x 
so the rank of A is 4 if x2 6= 1, that is if x 6= 1 and x 6= −1. To sum up,

3, if x = 1 o x = −1;
rg A =
4, in all other cases.
Now we compute the rank of B. Note that the minor
 
 1 2 
 1 3 =1
 

does not vanish. Hence, rg B ≥ 2. On the other hand,

1 x x2 x x2 x2
     
1 1 x
rg B = rg  1 2 4  = rg  1 2 4  = rg  0 2−x 4 − x2 
1 3 9 0 1 5 0 1 5
and this rank is 3, unless 5(2 − x) = 4 − x2 . This happens if and only if x2 − 5x + 6 = 0,
that is if √
5 ± 25 − 24
x= = 2, 3
2
To sum up,

2, si x = 2 o x = 3;
rg B =
3, en los demás casos.
Finally, we compute the rank of C.
   
x −1 0 1 1 0 −1 2
rg C = rg  0 x −1 1  = rg  x −1 0 1  =
1 0 −1 2 0 x −1 1
   
1 0 −1 2 1 0 −1 2
rg  0 −1 x 1 − 2x  = rg  0 −1 x 1 − 2x 
0 x −1 1 0 0 x2 − 1 1 + x − 2x2
ant this rank es 3 unless x2 − 1 = 0 and 1 + x − 2x2 = 0. The solutions to x2 − 1 = 0 are
x = 1 and x = −1. The solutions to 2x2 − x − 1 are
√
1± 1+8 1
x= = 1, −
4 2
Hence, x = 1 is the only solution to both equations. Therefore,

2, if x = 1;
rg C =
3, otherwise.

(9) Let A and B be square, invertible matrices of the same order. Solve for X in the following
matrix equations:
(a) X t · A = B
−1
(b) (X · A) = A−1 · B
6 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

   
1 2 1 0 1 2
Find X in the preceding equations when A =  0 1 0  and B =  1 0 1 
3 1 2 1 1 1
Solution: a): Taking transpose in the equation X t A = B, we obtain B t = (X t A)t =
A X. Solving for X we have that X = (At )−1 B t = (A−1 )t B t . When
t
   
1 2 1 0 1 2
A =  0 1 1  B =  1 0 1 
3 1 2 1 1 1
we see that  
6 1 1
X = (A−1 )t B t =  −9 −2 −1 
−2 0 0

b): Taking inverse matrices in the equation (XA)−1 = A−1 B we see that XA =
(A−1 B)−1 = B −1 (A−1 )−1 = B −1 A. And since, A is invertible, we can solve for X =
B −1 AA−1 = B −1 . When
   
1 2 1 0 1 2
A= 0 1 1  B= 1 0 1 
3 1 2 1 1 1
we obtain  
−1/2 1/2 1/2
X = B −1 = 0 −1 1 
1/2 1/2 −1/2

(10) Whenever possible, compute the inverse of the following matrices:

   
1 0 x 1 0 −1
2
A= x  B= 0 x 3 
 −x 1 −2 
0 0 1 4 1 −x

Solution: We use the formula to compute the inverse of de A que

 
1 0 −x
2
A−1 =  x 1 −x 2

0 0 1
We may also compute the inverse by performing elementary operations by rows,
  
1 0 x  1 0 0
2
 −x 1 − x2  0 1 0 
0 0 1  0 0 1
Bow we add to the second row the first one times x,
  
1 0 x  1 0 0
 0 1 x2  x 1 0 
2 
0 0 1  0 0 1
subtract the third row times x to the first one,
  
1 0 0  1 0 −x
 0 1 x2  x 1 0 
2 
0 0 1  0 0 1
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 7

2
Substract now the third row times x2 to the second row,
  
1 0 0  1 0 −x
2
 0 1 0 
 x 1 − x2 
0 0 1  0 0 1
from here we obtain the inverse matrix o A.
Now we compute the inverse matrix of
 
1 0 −1
B= 0 x 3 
4 1 −x
By the usual formula we see that
 2 
x +3 1 −x
1
B −1 = 2  −12 x−4 3 
x − 4x + 3
4x 1 −x
We also compute the inverse matrix by noticing that
  
1 0 −1  1 0 0
 0 t 3  0 1 0 

4 1 −t  0 0 1
now we subtract from the third row the first row times 4,
  
1 0 −1  1 0 0
 0 t 3  0 1 0 
0 1 4 − t  −4 0 1
exchange rows 2 and 3
  
1 0 −1  1
 0 0
 0 1 4−t  −4 0 1 

0 t 3  0 1 0
Add the second row times t to the third row
  
1 0 −1  1
 0 0
 0 1 4−t  −4
 0 1 
2
0 0 t − 4t + 3  4t 1 −t
From here we see that |A| = t2 − 4t + 3. The roots of this polynomial are
√
4 ± 16 − 12
t= = 1, 3
2
so the inverse matrix exists if and only if t 6= 1 y t 6= 3. Assuming this inequality, divide by
t2 − 4t + 3 the last row
  
1 0 −1  1 0 0
 0 1 4−t  −4 0 1 
4t 1 t

0 0 1  t2 −4t+3 t2 −4t+3 − t2 −4t+3
and add the third row to the first one and third row times t − 4 to the second row,
2
−t
0 0  t2t−4t+3+3 1
  
1 t2 −4t+3 t2 −4t+3
 0 −12
1 0  t2 −4t+3 t−4 3 
t2 −4t+3 t2 −4t+3
0 0 1  4t 1 −t
t2 −4t+3 t2 −4t+3 t2 −4t+3
so  2 
t +3 1 −t
1
A−1 = 2  −12 t−4 3 
t − 4t + 3
4t 1 −t
8 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

(11) Whenever possible, compute the inverse of the following matrices:

     
4 6 0 1 0 −2 4 5 −2
A =  −3 −5 0  B= 0 0 0  C =  −2 −2 1 
−3 −6 1 −2 0 4 −1 −1 1
Solution: We shall use Gauss’ method to compute the inverse. We begin with the matrix
  
4 6 0  1 0 0
( A| I) =  −3 −5 0  0 1 0 
−3 −6 1  0 0 1
divide the first row by 4
  
1 6/4 0  1/4 0 0
 −3 −5 0  0 1 0 

−3 −6 1  0 0 1
now, subtract the third row to the second one
  
1 6/4 0  1/4 0 0
 0 1 −1  0 1 −1 
−3 −6 1  0 0 1
add the third row to the first one times 3,
  
1 3/2 0  1/4 0 0
 0 1 −1  0 1 −1 
0 −3/2 1  3/4 0 1
add the third row to the first one
  
1 0 1  1 0 1
 0 1 −1  0 1 −1 
0 −3/2 1  3/4 0 1
add the second row times 3/2 to the third row,
  
1 0 1  1 0 1
 0 1 −1  0 1 −1 
0 0 −1/2  3/4 3/2 −1/2
multiply the third row by −2
  
1 0 1 
 1 0 1
 0 1 −1 
 0 1 −1 
0 0 1  −3/2 −3 1
add the second row to the third one and subtract them to the first one
  
1 0 0  5/2 3 0
 0 1 0  −3/2 −2 0 
0 0 1  −3/2 −3 1
Thus, the inverse is
 
5/2 3 0
 −3/2 −2 0 
−3/2 −3 1

Note that |B| = 0, so B does not have an inverse.

 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 9

We compute the inverse matrix of C using Gauss’ methor

  
4 5 −2  1 0 0
( C| I) =  −2 −2 1  0 1 0 
−1 −1 1  0 0 1
Multiply the third row by −1 and exchange rows 1 and 3
  
1 1 −1  0 0 −1
( C| I) =  −2 −2 1  0 1 0 
4 5 −2  1 0 0
add the second row times 2 to the third row
  
1 1 −1  0
 0 −1
( C| I) =  −2 −2 1  0
 1 0 
0 1 0  1 2 0
add the first row times 2 to the first one
  
1 1 −1  0 0
 −1
( C| I) =  0 0 −1  0 1
 −2 
0 1 0  1 2 0
exchange rows 2 and 3
  
1 1 −1  0
 0 −1
( C| I) =  0 1 0  1
 2 0 
0 0 −1  0 1 −2
The third row times −1,
  
1 1 −1  0 0 −1
( C| I) =  0 1 0  1 2 0 
0 0 1  0 −1 2
add the row 3 to row 1,
  
1 1 0  0
 −1 1
( C| I) =  0 1 0  1
 2 0 
0 0 1  0 −1 2
subtract row 2 to row 1
  
1 0 0  −1 −3 1

( C| I) =  0 1 0  1
 2 0 
0 0 1  0 −1 2
the inverse is  
−1 −3 1
C −1 = 1 2 0 
0 −1 2


mx − y = 1
(12) Given the system , find m so that the system
x − my = 2m − 1
(a) has no solution,
(b) has infinitely many solutions,
(c) has a unique solution,
(d) has a solution with x = 3.
10 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

Solution: The matrix associated to the system is

  
m −1  1
1 −m  2m − 1
whose rank is the same as
     
1 −m  2m − 1 1 −m  2m − 1
rg = rg
m −1  1 0 m2 − 1  1 + m − 2m2
Therefore, the rank of this matrix 2 is m2 6= 1. That is, if m 6= 1 and m 6= −1 then the
system has a unique solution. In this case the system is equivalent to the following one
x − my = 2m − 1
2
(m − 1)y = 1 + m − 2m2
and the solution is
1 + m − 2m2 −(m − 1)(1 + 2m) −1 − 2m
y = = =
m2 − 1 (m − 1)(m + 1) m+1
1 + 2m −1
x = 2m − 1 + my = 2m − 1 − m =
m+1 m+1
If x = 3 is a solution we must have that
−1
3=
m+1
this implies that m = −4/3.
We study now the case m = 1.
     
1 −m  2m − 1 1 −1  1
rg = rg = 1 = rg A
0 m2 − 1  1 + m − 2m2 0 0  0
and the system has a unique solution. The original system of equations is equivalent to the
following one
x−y =1
and the set of solutions is {1 + y, y) : y ∈ R}. Taking y = 2, we obtain the solution (3, 2).
For the case m = −1 we have that
     
1 −m  2m − 1 1 1  −3
rg = rg = 2 6= rg A
0 m2 − 1  1 + m − 2m2 0 0  −2
and the system is inconsistent.

 x + ay = 1
(13) Given the system of linear equations ax + z = 1
ay + z = 2

(a) Express it in matrix form;
(b) Write the unknowns vector, the independent term and the associated homogeneous sys-
tem;
Solution: En forma matricial, el sistema queda expresado como AX = B con
     
1 a 0 1 x
A =  a 0 1  B =  1 X =  y 
0 a 1 2 z
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 11

(c) Discuss and solve it according to the values of a.

Solution: The augmented matrix is
  
1 a 0  1
(A|B) =  a 0 1  1 
0 a 1  2
First, we swap rows 2 and 3,
  
1 a 0  1

rg(A|B) = rg  0 a 1  2 

a 0 1  1
Now, we subtract row 1 times a from row 3
  
1 a 0 
 1
rg(A|B) = rg  0 a 1 
 2 
0 −a2 1  1−a
We add row 2 times a to row 2,
  
1 a 0 
 1
rg(A|B) = rg  0 a 1 
 2 
0 0 1+a  1+a
From this, we see that if a 6= 0 y a 6= −1 then rg(A) = rg(A|B) = 3 = the number
of unknowns, so the system has a unique solution. In this case, the original system is
equivalent to the following one,
x + ay = 1
ay + z = 2
(1 + a)z = 1+a
and we obtain the solution z = 1, y = 1/a, x = 0.
If a = −1, then
  
1 −1 0  1
rg(A|B) = rg  0 −1 1  2 
0 0 0  0
from this we see that rg(A) = rg(A|B) = 2 which is strictly less than the number of
unknowns, so the system is undetermined. Now, the original system is equivalent to
the following one,
x−y = 1
−y + z = 2
We take z as the parameter and solve for the variables
y =z−2 x=1+y =z−1
subtract set of solutions is
{(z − 1, z − 2, z) ∈ R3 : z ∈ R}
Finally, if a = 0, then
  
1 0 0  1

rg(A|B) = rg  0 0 1  2 

0 0 1  1
and we see that rg(A) = 2 < rg(A|B) = 3, so the system is inconsistent.
12 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS


 x + y + z + 2t − w = 1
(14) Discuss and solve the system −x − 2y + 2w = −2
x + 2z + 4t = 0


Solution: The augmented matrix A|B) is

  
1 1 1 2 −1  1
(A|B) =  −1 −2 0 0 2  −2 
1 0 2 4 0  0
By performing elementary row operations we see that
     
1 1 1 2 −1  1 1 1 1 2 −1  1
rg(A|B) = rg  0 −1 1 2 1  −1  = rg  0 −1 1 2 1  −1 
0 −1 1 2 1  −1 0 0 0 0 0  0
so rg(A) = rg(A|B) = 2 which is less than the number of unknowns. The system is consistent
and underdetermined. Since there are five unknowns, we obtain 5 − 2 = 3 parameters. We
have to solve the following linear system,
x + y + z + 2t − w = 1
−y + z + 2t + w = −1

We choose z, w and t as a parameters and solve for y = z+2t+w+1, x = 1−y−z−2t−w =

−2z − 4t. The set of solutions is
{(−2z − 4t, z + 2t + w + 1, z, t, w) ∈ R5 : z, t, w ∈ R}

(15) Discuss and solve the following system, according the values of a and b:

 x+y+z =0
ax + y + z = b
2x + 2y + (a + 1) z = 0


Solution: The augmented matrix is

  
1 1 1  0

rg(A|B) = rg  a 1 1  b 

2 2 a+1  0
Performing elementary row operations,
  
1 1 1  0

rg(A|B) = rg  0 1−a 1−a  b 

0 0 a−1  0
If a 6= 1, then the system has a unique solution and is equivalent to the following one
x+y+z = 0
b
y+z =
1−a
(a − 1)z = 0

The solution is
b −b
z = 0, y= , x=
1−a 1−a
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 13

Now, we study the linear system for the value a = 1. In this case,
  
1 1 1  0
rg(A|B) = rg  0 0 0  b 
0 0 0  0
So, when b 6= 0 the system is inconsistent, since rg(A) = 1, rg(A|B) = 2.
Finally, if a = 1 and b = 0 then rg(A) = rg(A|B) = 1 and the system is consistent
and underdetermined with 3 − 1 = 2 parameters. The original system is equivalent to the
following one
x+y+z =0
Taking y and z as parameters, the set of solutions is
{(−y − z, y, z) : y, z ∈ R}
To sum up,
b −b

 a 6= 1, There
 is a unique solution: z = 0, y = 1−a , x = 1−a ;
b 6= 0, inconsistent;
 a = 1, If .
b = 0, undetermined. The set of solutions is the set {(−y − z, y, z) : y, z ∈ R}.

(16) Discuss and solve the following system, according the values of a and b:

 x − 2y + bz = 3
5x + 2y = 1
ax + z = 2


Solution: The augmented matrix is

  
1 −2 b  3
(A|B) =  5 2 0  1 
a 0 1  2
Performing elementary row operations we see that
  
1 −2 b 
 3
rg(A|B) = rg  0 12 −5b  −14 

0 2a 1 − ab  2 − 3a
We subtract row 2 times a/6 from row 3,
  
1 −2 b 
 3
rg(A|B) = rg  0 12 −5b  −14 
0 0 1 − ab  2 − 2a
6 3
And we see that if ab 6= 6 then the unique solution is
12 − 4a −7 5 12 − 4a 12 − 4a 7 5 12 − 4a
z= , y= + b, x = 3 + b− + b
6 − ab 6 12 6 − ab 6 − ab 3 6 6 − ab
If ab = 6 we solve for a = 6/b (since b 6= 0) to obtain
  
1 −2 b  3
rg(A|B) = rg  0 12 −5b  −14 
0 0 0  2b−4
b
So, if b = 2 (and hence a = 3) then rg(A|B) = rg(A) = 2 and the system is consistent and
underdetermined. It is equivalent to the following system
x − 2y + 2z = 3
12y − 10z = −14
14 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS

Taking z as the parameter, the set of solutions is

2 − z 5z − 7
{( , , z) : z ∈ R}
3 6
Finally, if b 6= 2 then the system is inconsistent.

(17) Using Cramer’s method, solve the following system:


 −x + y + z = 3
x−y+z =7
x+y−z =1


Solution: The determinant of the associated matrix is

 
 −1 1 1 

 1 −1 1  = 4

 1 1 −1 
And the solutions are
     
 3 1 1   −1 3 1   −1 1 3 
1  16 1   8 1  20
x =  7 −1 1 =
 = 4 y =  1 7 1 = =2 z=  1 −1 7  = =5
4 4 4  4 4  4
1 1 −1   1 1 −1   1 1 1 

(18) Using Cramer’s method, solve the following system


 x + y = 12
y+z =8
x+z =6


Solution: The determinant of the associated matrix is

 
 1 1 0 

 0 1 1  = 2

 1 0 1 
And the solutions are
     
 12 1 0   1 12 0   1 1 12 
1   10 1  14 1   2
x =  8 1 1  = = 5 y =  0 8 1 = = 7 z = 0 1 8 = =1
2 2 2  2 2   2
6 0 1  1 6 1  1 0 6 

(19) Using Cramers’s method, solve the following system:


 x + y − 2z = 9
2x − y + 4z = 4
2x − y + 6z = −1


Solution: The determinant of the associated matrix is

 
 1
 1 −2 
 2 −1 4  = −6

 2 −1 6 
And the solutions are
     
 9 1 −2   1 9 −2   1 1 9 
1  −36 1 
 = 12 = −2
 1  15 −5
x= 4 −1 4 =
 =6 y=  2 4 4 z= 2 −1 4  = =
−6  −6 −6   −6 −6  −6 2
1 −1 6  2 1 6  2 −1 1 
 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS 15

(20) Given the system of equations


x + 2y + z = 3
ax + (a + 3)y + 3z = 1
(a) Study for what values of a the system is not consistent.
(b) For each value of a for which the system is consistent, find the solution.

Solution: The rank of the associated matrix is

     
1 2 1  3 1 2 1  3
rg(A|B) = rg = rg
a a+3 3  1 0 3−a 3 − a  1 − 3a
We see that if a = 3 then the system has no solutions because rg(A|B) = 2, rg(A) = 1.
If a 6= 3 the system is consistent and underdetermined. It is equivalent to the following one
x + 2y + z = 3
(3 − a)y + (3 − a)z = 1 − 3a

Taking z as the parameter, the set of solutions is

7 + 3a 1 − 3a
{( + z, − z, z) : z ∈ R}
3−a 3−a

(21) Given the homogeneous system


 3x + 3y − z = 0
−4x − 2y + mz = 0
3x + 4y + 6z = 0


(a) Find m so that it admits solutions other than the trivial solution.
(b) Solve the system.
Solution: The rank of the associated matrix is
   
3 3 −1 3 3 −1
rg  −4 −2 m  = rg  −1 1 m − 1 
3 4 6 0 1 7
we swap the first two rows
   
−1 1 m−1 −1 1 m−1
= rg  3 3 −1  = rg  0 6 3m − 4 
0 1 7 0 1 7
and now swap the last two rows
   
−1 1 m − 1 −1 1 m−1
= rg  0 1 7  = rg  0 1 7 
0 6 3m − 4 0 0 3m − 46
The system has non-trivial solution if and only if the determinant vanishes. This happens
for the value m = 46/3. In this case, the original system is equivalent to the following one
43
−x + y + z = 0
3
y + 7z = 0

and the set of solutions is

{(22z/3, −7z, z) : z ∈ R}
16 SHEET 1. MATRICES, DETERMINANTS AND SYSTEMS