Systems of three equations in three unknowns
In a café, three groups of friends order different combinations of ham, cheese and omelette sandwiches, and each group pays a different total. Three unknowns —the price of each sandwich— and three independent conditions. With two unknowns, two equations were enough; with three unknowns, you need three equations, and a method that keeps things simple: Gaussian elimination.
A system of three equations in three unknowns
Check whether the triple $x = 1$, $y = -1$, $z = 2$ is a solution to the following system. Justify your answer. $3x + y - z = 0$ $x - 2y + z = 5$ $2x + y + z = 3$
Check whether the triple $x = 1$, $y = -1$, $z = 2$ is a solution to the following system. Justify your answer.
$3x + y - z = 0$
$x - 2y + z = 5$
$2x + y + z = 3$
Echelon-form systems: back substitution
Solve the following system of linear equations, which is already in echelon form, using back-substitution: $x + 2y - z = 4$ $3y + z = 5$ $2z = 4$
Solve the following system of linear equations, which is already in echelon form, using back-substitution:
$x + 2y - z = 4$
$3y + z = 5$
$2z = 4$
Gaussian elimination: turning any system into echelon form
Apply Gaussian elimination to transform into triangular form and solve the following system of equations: $x - y + z = 2$ $2x + y - z = 1$ $x + 2y + z = 7$
Apply Gaussian elimination to transform into triangular form and solve the following system of equations:
$x - y + z = 2$
$2x + y - z = 1$
$x + 2y + z = 7$
Solve the following system of linear equations containing fractional coefficients. Simplify the equations before applying Gaussian elimination:…
Solve the following system of linear equations containing fractional coefficients. Simplify the equations before applying Gaussian elimination:
$\frac{x}{2} + \frac{y}{3} - z = 1$
$x - \frac{y}{2} + \frac{z}{4} = 2$
$\frac{x}{3} + y - \frac{z}{2} = 3$
The three types of solution
Transform the following system into triangular form using Gaussian elimination and state whether it is an Inconsistent System: $x + y + z = 1$ $2x + y - z = 0$…
Transform the following system into triangular form using Gaussian elimination and state whether it is an Inconsistent System:
$x + y + z = 1$
$2x + y - z = 0$
$3x + 2y = 5$
Apply Gaussian elimination to the following system and check that it is a consistent dependent system by obtaining an equation of the form $0 = 0$: $x - y + 2z = 3$…
Apply Gaussian elimination to the following system and check that it is a consistent dependent system by obtaining an equation of the form $0 = 0$:
$x - y + 2z = 3$
$-2x + 2y - 4z = -6$
$3x - 3y + 6z = 9$
Solve the following consistent dependent system and express its infinitely many solutions in terms of a parameter $\lambda$: $x + 2y - z = 4$ $2x - y + 3z = 3$…
Solve the following consistent dependent system and express its infinitely many solutions in terms of a parameter $\lambda$:
$x + 2y - z = 4$
$2x - y + 3z = 3$
$3x + y + 2z = 7$
Planes in space and real-life problems
Each linear equation in three unknowns is a plane. A consistent determinate system is three planes meeting at a single point; this is the three-dimensional version of "two lines that meet at a point".
The sum of three numbers is $12$. The first plus the second add up to $7$. The second plus the third add up to $9$. Set up a system of three equations with three…
The sum of three numbers is $12$. The first plus the second add up to $7$. The second plus the third add up to $9$. Set up a system of three equations with three unknowns and determine the value of these numbers.
In a café, three types of sandwiches are sold: ham, cheese, and omelette. One group of friends orders $3$ ham, $2$ cheese, and $1$ omelette, paying $14$ euros. Another…
In a café, three types of sandwiches are sold: ham, cheese, and omelette. One group of friends orders $3$ ham, $2$ cheese, and $1$ omelette, paying $14$ euros. Another group orders $2$ ham, $1$ cheese, and $3$ omelette, paying $13$ euros. A third group orders $1$ ham, $3$ cheese, and $2$ omelette, paying $15$ euros. Set up and solve a system to calculate the price of each type of sandwich.
Three machines A, B, and C manufacture parts in a factory. Working together, machine A and machine B manufacture $50$ parts per hour. Machine B and machine C together…
Three machines A, B, and C manufacture parts in a factory. Working together, machine A and machine B manufacture $50$ parts per hour. Machine B and machine C together manufacture $70$ parts per hour. Finally, machine A and machine C together manufacture $60$ parts per hour. Calculate how many parts per hour each machine manufactures individually.
Back to the start: solving the café system ($3x + 2y + z = 14$, $2x + y + 3z = 13$, $x + 3y + 2z = 15$) using Gaussian elimination, we find that the ham sandwich costs $2$ €, the cheese sandwich $3$ € and the omelette sandwich $2$ €.