Singapore University of

Technology & Design

MATH 10.004

Systems of Linear Equations

Cohort 1
Meyer, Sections 1.1-1.2

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After this cohort you will be able to ...

be able to draw and think about planes in multiple dimensions

based on a linear equation.

understand the geometry of systems of linear equations in terms

of planes.

categorize a system of equations by the existence and number of

its solutions.

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 1: LINEAR EQUATIONS

Consider the equation: 2x ` 4y 3z 5.

1. Find a solution of this equation.

2. Subtract 2 from the x value of your solution and add 1 to the y
value. Is it still a solution?
3. Why is there more than one solution to this equation?
4. Find all solutions to this equation.

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 1: LINEAR EQUATIONS

Consider the equation: 2x ` 4y 3z 5.
1. Find a solution of this equation.

px , y , z q p2, 1, 1q is a solution.
2. Subtract 2 from the x value of your solution and add 1 to the y
value. Is it still a solution? Why?

px , y , z q p0, 2, 1q is still a solution because

2p2q ` 4p1q 3p0q 0.
3. Why is there more than one solution to this equation?
There are 3 unknowns px , y , z q and only one equation*.
4. Find all solutions to this equation.
If we let y P R and z P R, `then x 12 p5 4 ` 3q.
Thus all solutions are described by: 21 p5 4 ` 3q, , .
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

A linear system of m equations in n unknowns is written as

a11 x1 ` a12 x2 ` ` a1n xn b1
a21 x1 ` a22 x2 ` ` a2n xn b2
..
.
am1 x1 ` am2 x2 ` ` amn xn bm .
which is a mathematical way of expressing m linear equality
constraints that the n variables xi , i P t1, . . . , nu, need to satisfy.

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION

a11 x1 ` a12 x2 ` ` a1n xn b1

a21 x1 ` a22 x2 ` ` a2n xn b2
..
.
am1 x1 ` am2 x2 ` ` amn xn bm .
m hyperplanes in n dimensions, each of the form
ai1 x1 ` ai2 x2 ` ` ain xn bi .
In R2 this is a line. In R3 this is a plane. A system of linear
equations represents m simultaneous expressions of this form.
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

SOLUTIONS IN R2

a11 x1 ` a12 x2 b1

is a line

a21 x1 ` a22 x2 b2

is a line

a11 x1 ` a12 x2 b1

x2

a11
a12

x1 `

x2

x1

b1
a12

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

SOLUTIONS IN R2

The system can have either:

x2

x1

One Solution

x2

x2

x1

No Solutions

x1

Infinite Solutions

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 2: GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION (10 MINUTES)

Consider the linear system:

2x y 1
x `y 5

Draw the linear system in R2 using the geometric interpretation of

hyperplanes.
Solve for px , y q and indicate how the solution appears in your figure.

Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 2: GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION

2x y 1

px , y q p2, 3q

x
x `y 5

"

2x y 1
The unique solution to
is given by
x `y 5
px , y q p2, 3q, the point where the two lines cross.
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

SINGULARITY AND NON-SINGULARITY

A system of linear equations can be either:

Consistent

Unique solution (Non-Singular)

Infinite number of solutions (Singular)

Inconsistent

No solution (Singular)

A system of linear equations can be:

Underdetermined (underconstrained)

more unknowns (variables) than equations (constraints)

Overdetermined (overconstrained)

more equations (constraints) than unknowns (variables)

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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 3: SOLUTION GEOMETRY (5 MINUTES)

The following plots show three planes in R3 , where each plane

corresponds to one of the equations in a system of 3 linear equations
in 3 unknowns.

For each plot, specify whether the system described is consistent or

inconsistent, and if consistent specify the number of solutions.

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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 3: SOLUTION GEOMETRY

For each plot, specify whether the system described is consistent or
inconsistent, and if consistent specify the number of solutions.

1
2
3
4
5

Consistent?
Inconsistent
Consistent
Inconsistent
Inconsistent
Consistent

# Solutions?
None
Infinite
None
None
Unique

Singular?
Singular
Singular
Singular
Singular
Nonsingular
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 4: PLANES IN R4 (15 MINUTES)

Consider the following three hyperplanes in R4 :
u`v `w `z 6
u`w `z 4
u`w 2

1. Describe the intersection of the hyperplanes.

2. Is the intersection a line, a point, or the empty set?
3. What is the intersection if a 4th plane, u 1, is included?
4. Find a 4th equation, which results in no solution.

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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 4: PLANES IN R4
u`v `w `z 6

(1)

u`w `z 4

(2)

u`w 2

(3)

1. Describe the intersection of the hyperplanes.

(2)-(3) yields z 2.
(1)-(2) yields v 2.
Hence, our system simplifies to the equivalent system v z 2
and u ` w 2.
2. Is the intersection a line, a point, or an empty set?
The coordinates of v and z are fixed and u and w are related via
u ` w 2. This describes a line.
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 4: PLANES IN R4
u`v `w `z 6
u`w `z 4
u`w 2

3. What is the intersection if a 4th plane, u 1, is included?

With this additional constraint we have v z 2 (as before) and
u 1 and w 3. Hence, the intersection now describes a
point.
4. Find a 4th equation, which results in no solution.
u ` w 5 would be such an equation since it contradicts
u ` w 2.
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 5: SINGULARITY IN R3 (10 MINUTES)

Consider the following system in R3 :
u` v` w 2
u ` 2v ` 3w 1
v ` 2w 0
Explain why the system is inconsistent by finding a combination of the
three equations that adds to 0 1.
Replace the zero on the RHS to allow the equations to have solutions,
and what is one of the solutions?

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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

ACTIVITY 5: SINGULARITY IN R3
Consider the following system in R3 :
u` v` w 2

(1)

u ` 2v ` 3w 1

(2)

v ` 2w 0

(3)

Explain why the system is inconsistent by finding a combination of the

three equations that adds to 0 1.
Replace the zero on the RHS to allow the equations to have solutions,
and what is one of the solutions?
Combining (1)-(2)+(3) yields 0 1. Thus the system is inconsistent
and singular.
Consistency (hence a solution) is achieved by setting the zero on the
RHS to 1. In this case, one solution is u 3, v 1, and w 0.
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Linear Equations

Singularity and Non-Singularity

Summary

SUMMARY

The geometric interpretation of linear equations corresponds to

intersecting hyperplanes.

A linear system can have no solutions, a unique solution, or an

infinite number of solutions.

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