10. Solve using row operations

2x + 3y + z = 10

x - y + z = 4

4x - y - 5z = -8

We first look at the augmented matrix.

We perform the same operations we as we do when we are trying to invert the coefficient matrix. First we need to get a 1 in the upper left corner. The easiest way to do that would be to switch the first two rows.

We can now use the 1 in the upper left corner to get rid of the other entries in the first column. Multiply the top row by 2 and subtract it from the second row to get a new second row.

and multiply it by 4 ans subtract it from the tihird row to get a new third row.

Our matrix now looks like

We next want to get a 1 in the second column of the second row. The easiest way to do that would be to start by dividing the third row by 3.

This gets us a 1 in the second column. If we switch the second and third rows, we get a 1 in the desired position.

We can now use this 1 to wipe out all of the other entries in the second column. To get rid of the second entry in the top row, add the two rows to get a new top row.

and subtract 5 times the middle row from thebottom row to get rid of the 5.

Our matrix now looks like

We next want to get a 1 in the third column of the third row. In order to do that we will have to divide the third row by 14.

We can now use this 1 to wipe out the other entries in the third column. First we multiply the new bottom row by 2 and add it to the top row to get rid if the -2.

and we multiply the bottom row by 3 and add it to the middle row to get rid of the -3.

Our matrix now looks like

which corresponds to the system of equations

x = 2

y = 1

z = 3

which is the same solution we get from substitution, addition, Cramer's rule, and the inverse method, and which checks.

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