1.6 - Linear System and Inverse Matrix
1.6 - Linear System and Inverse Matrix
1.6 - Linear System and Inverse Matrix
The proof will be complete if we can show that the system has infinitely many solutions in case (c).
Assume that 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃 has more than one solution, and let 𝒙𝟎 = 𝒙𝟏 − 𝒙𝟐 , where 𝒙𝟏 and 𝒙𝟐 are any two distinct
solutions. Because 𝒙𝟏 and 𝒙𝟐 are distinct, the matrix 𝒙𝟎 is nonzero; moreover,
Theorem 1.6.2 If 𝐴 is an invertible 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix, then for each 𝑛 × 1 matrix 𝒃, the system of equations
𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃 has exactly one solution, namely, 𝒙 = 𝐴$% 𝒃.
1 2 3 𝑥 5
𝐴= 2 5 3 , 𝒙 = 𝑦 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒃 = 3
1 0 8 𝑧 17
we showed that 𝐴 is invertible and
−40 16 9
𝐴$% = 13 −5 −3
5 −2 −1
Therefore the solution of the system is
−40 16 9 5 1
𝒙 = 𝐴$% 𝒃 = 13 −5 −3 3 = −1
5 −2 −1 17 2
Or, 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = −1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧 = 2
Linear Systems with Common Coefficient Matrix
Solving a sequence of systems
𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃% , 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃& , 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃' … … . , 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃(
each of which has the same square coefficient matrix 𝐴.
(a) 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 4 (b) 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1
2𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 5 2𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 3𝑧 =6
𝑥+ +8𝑧 = 9 𝑥+ +8𝑧 = −6
Linear Systems with Common Coefficient Matrix
Solution: The two systems have the same coefficient matrix. If we augment this coefficient
matrix with the columns of constants on the right sides of these systems, we obtain
1 2 3 4 1
2 5 3 O5 P 6
1 0 8 9 −6
Reducing this matrix to reduced row echelon form (RREF) yields
1 0 0 1 2
0 1 0 O0 P 1
0 0 1 1 −1
It follows from the last two columns that the solution of system (a) is 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 0,
𝑧 = 1 and the solution of system (b) is 𝑥 =2, 𝑦 = 1, 𝑧 = −1
Properties of Invertible Matrices
Theorem 1.6.3 Let 𝐴 be a square matrix.
(a) If 𝐵 is a square matrix satisfying 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐼, then 𝐵 = 𝐴!" .
(b) If 𝐵 is a square matrix satisfying 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐼, then 𝐵 = 𝐴!" .
Proof: Given that 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐼 . Let assume 𝐴 is invertible, the proof can be completed by multiplying 𝐵𝐴 =
𝐼 on both sides by 𝐴!" to obtain
𝐵𝐴𝐴!" = 𝐼𝐴!"
Or, 𝐵𝐼 = 𝐴!"
Or, 𝐵 = 𝐴!"
To show that A is invertible, it suffices to show that the system 𝐴𝒙 = 𝟎 has only the trivial solution (see
Theorem 1.5.3). Let 𝒙𝟎 (other than zero) be any solution of this system. If we multiply both sides of 𝐴𝒙𝟎 = 𝟎
on the left by 𝐵,we obtain
𝐵𝐴𝒙𝟎 = 𝐵𝟎
Or, 𝐼𝒙𝟎 = 𝟎
Or, 𝒙𝟎 = 𝟎
(𝐴𝐵)𝐵!" = 𝐴(𝐵𝐵!" ) = 𝐴𝐼 = 𝐴
is invertible since the left side is a product of invertible matrices. This completes the proof.
Determining The Consistency of a Linear System
A Fundamental Problem Let A be a fixed 𝑚 × 𝑛 matrix. Find all 𝑚 × 1 matrices 𝒃 such that the system of
equations 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃 is consistent.
Example 3: What conditions must 𝑏! , 𝑏" , and 𝑏# satisfy in order to the system of equations
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 𝑏!
𝑥 + 𝑧 = 𝑏"
2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 𝑏#
to be consistent?
Solution: The augmented matrix is
1 1 2 𝑏!
1 0 1 5𝑏"
2 1 3 𝑏#
which can be reduced to row echelon form as follows:
1 1 2 𝑏!
0 −1 −1 5 𝑏" − 𝑏! 𝑅′& = 𝑅& + (−1)𝑅%
0 −1 −1 𝑏# − 2𝑏! 𝑅′' = 𝑅' + (−2) 𝑅%
1 1 2 𝑏!
0 1 1 5 𝑏! − 𝑏"
𝑅′& = (−1)𝑅&
0 −1 −1 𝑏# − 2𝑏!
Determining The Consistency of a Linear System
1 1 2 𝑏"
0 1 1 , 𝑏" − 𝑏$ 𝑅′' = 𝑅' + (1) 𝑅%
0 0 0 𝑏% − 𝑏$ − 𝑏"
It is now evident from the third row in the matrix that the system has a solution if and only if 𝑏" ,
𝑏$ , and 𝑏% satisfy the condition
𝑏% − 𝑏$ − 𝑏" = 0
Or,
𝑏% = 𝑏$ + 𝑏"
To express this condition another way, 𝐴𝒙 = 𝒃 is consistent if and only if 𝒃 is a matrix of the form
𝑏"
𝒃= 𝑏$
𝑏" + 𝑏$