University of Lille I

PC first year list of exercises n◦ 2

Resolution of linear systems by the Gauss method

Exercise 1 Decide, for the following systems of equations with unknown variables x1 , x2 , . . . , xn and
parameters s, t, if they are linear :
  1 2 n
a)
x1 sin(t) +x2 = 3
b) x1 + x2 + . . . + xn = n!
x1 e t +3x2 = t2 x1 + x22 + . . . + xnn = n! 1

 p 
(x1 + sx2 + t)2 − 4sx2 (x1 + t) = 0 (1 + sx1 )(3 + tx2 ) − (2 + tx1 )(5 + sx2 ) = 8
c) d)
x1 ln s − πx2 + et xn = 0 (x3 + s)2 − (x3 − s)2 + x2 = 0

Solution of exercise 1:
Recall that a system of equations is called linear if every equation inP the system is linear. An equation
with unknown variables x1 , x2 , . . . , xn is linear if it is of the form ni=1 ai xi = b, where ai and b are
constants which can depend (possibly non linearly!) on some parameters (but which are independant of
the variables).

a) This system is linear.

b) The firstpequation is not linear, hence the system
p is not linear.
c) One has (x1 + sx2 + t)2 − 4sx2 (x1 + t) = (x1 − sx2 + t)2 = ±(x1 − sx2 + t) depending on the sign
of the expression (x1 − sx2 + t). However, since |u| = 0 ⇔ u = 0, the first equation is equivalent to
x1 − sx2 + t = 0 ⇔ x1 − sx2 = −t which is linear in x1 , x2 (remark that this would not be the case if the
right hand side of the first equation was non-zero). The second equation is also linear in x1 , x2 , xn . Hence
the system is linear. 
x1 (3s − 5t) + x2 (t − 2s) = 15
d) After simplification, one gets: which is linear.
x2 + 4sx3 = 0

Exercise 2 Using Gauss’s algorithm, solve the following system:


 2x1 + 4x2 − 6x3 − 2x4 = 2
S: 3x1 + 6x2 − 7x3 + 4x4 = 2 .
5x1 + 10x2 − 11x3 + 6x4 = 3


Solution of exercise 2:
One has the following equivalences:
L1 ← 21 L1

 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
S⇔ 3x1 + 6x2 − 7x3 + 4x4 = 2
5x1 + 10x2 − 11x3 + 6x4 = 3


 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
⇔ 2x3 + 7x4 = −1 L2 ← L2 − 3L1
4x3 + 11x4 = −2 L3 ← L3 − 5L1


 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
⇔ 2x3 + 7x4 = −1
− 3x4 = 0 L3 ← L3 − 2L2


 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
⇔ 2x3 + 7x4 = −1
x4 = 0 L3 ← − 13 L3


1
 
 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
⇔ 2x3 = −1 L2 ← L2 − 7L3
x4 = 0


 x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 − x4 = 1
⇔ x3 = − 21 L2 ← 12 L2
x4 = 0


= − 12

 x1 + 2x2 L1 ← L1 + 3L2 + L3
⇔ x3 = − 12
x4 = 0


It follows that the set of solutions of the system S is the set of vectors
   1 
x1 − 2 − 2λ
 x2   λ 
 x3  = 
   1
.
−2 
x4 0

Exercise 3 Solve the following system:

   
1 0 1 2   1
 −1 2 0 1  x  2 
  y   
 3
 2 1 2   = 
 z   −1 .

 4 3 2 3   3 
t
1 −1 1 −2 1

Solution of exercise 3
This is a system of 5 equations relating 4 unknowns. Therefore there will appear 5 − 4 = 1 conditions of
compatibility for the system to have a solution. The extended matrix of the system is the following:
 
1 0 1 2 1
 -1 2 0 1 2 
 
 3 2 1 2 -1 
 
 4 3 2 3 3 
1 -1 1 -2 1

The Gauss algorithm applied to the system gives the following succession of elementary operations:
 
1 0 1 2 1
 L2 ← L2 + L1
 0 2 1 3 3 

 L3 ← L3 − 3L1
 0 2 -2 -4 -4 

 0 3 -2 -5 -1  L4 ← L4 − 4L1
0 -1 0 -4 0 L5 ← L5 − L1
 
1 0 1 2 1
 0 1 0 4 0  L2 ← L5 then L2 ← −L2
L3 ← −1
 
⇔ 
 0 -1 1 2 2 
 2 L3
 0 3 -2 -5 -1 
0 2 1 3 3 L5 ← L2
   
1 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 1

 0 1 0 4 0 

 0
 1 0 4 0 

⇔ 
 0 0 1 6 2 
 L3 ← L3 + L2 ⇔  0 0 1 6 2 

 0 0 -2 -17 -1  L4 ← L4 − 3L2  0 0 0 -5 3  L4 ← L4 + 2L3
0 0 1 -5 3 L5 ← L5 − 2L2 0 0 0 -11 1 L5 ← L5 − L3

2
  
1 0 1 2 1

 0 1 0 4 0 

⇔ 
 0 0 1 6 2 

 0 0 0 -5 3 
−28 11
0 0 0 0 5 L5 ← L5 − 5 L4
−28
Since 5 6= 0, the system has no solution.

Exercise 4 Resolve the following system:

 
  x  
1 0 2 1 1 2
 y
 
 2 1 3 −1 2   0 
 −2 −1 1 −3 2   z
   =  .
  1 
 t 
3 2 0 1 −1 1
u

Solution of exercise 4:
This is a system of 4 equations with 5 unknowns. Therefore we expect the system to have a line of
solutions. We apply the Gauss algorithm to the extended matrix of the system:
   
1 0 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 1 2
 2 1 3 -1 2 0   0 1 -1 -3 0 -4  L2 ← L2 − 2L1
 -2 -1 1 -3 2 1  ⇔  0 -1 5 -1 4 5  L3 ← L3 + 2L1
   

3 2 0 1 -1 1 0 2 -6 -2 -4 -5 L4 ← L4 − 3L1
   
1 0 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 1 2
 0 1 -1 -3 0 -4   0 1 -1 -3 0 -4 
⇔   ⇔  
 0 0 4 -4 4 1  L3 ← L3 + L2  0 0 4 -4 4 1 
0 0 -4 4 -4 3 L4 ← L4 − 2L2 0 0 0 0 0 4 L4 ← L4 + L3
Since 4 6= 0, the system has in fact no solution (contrary to what we expected...).

Exercise 5 Let a be a real number. Consider the following linear system:


 x − 2y + 3z = 2
Sa : x + 3y − 2z = 5
2x − y + az = 1


1. According to the values of the parameter a, determine if the system Sa can:

(i) admit no solution ;

(ii) admit a unique solution ;
(iii) admit infinitely many solutions.

2. Solve the system Sa when it has one or more solutions.

Solution of exercise 5:

 x − 2y + 3z = 2
Sa ⇔ 5y − 5z = 3 L2 − L1
3y + (a − 6)z = −3 L3 − 2L1



 x − 2y + 3z = 2
⇔ 5y − 5z = 3
(5a − 15)z = −24 5L3 − 3L2


1. (i) For a = 3 the system Sa has no solution.

3
 (ii) For a 6= 3, the system admits a unique solution.
(iii) There is no value of the parameter a for which the system admits infinitely many solutions.

2. For a 6= 3 the system is equivalent to:

= 2 + 2 53 − 2 (5a−15)
24 24

 x
 + 3 (5a−15)
y = 35 − (5a−15)
24
24
z = − (5a−15)



and has the following unique solution:

16 24
 
5 + (5a−15)
3 24
~v =  5 − (5a−15)
 

24
− (5a−15)

Exercise 6 The complex vectors (z, w) et (z 0 , w0 ) are related by the formula (z 0 , w0 ) = (z + iw, (1 + i)z +
(1 − 2i)w). A student who does not like complex numbers set z = x + iy, w = u + iv, z 0 = x0 + iy 0 and
w0 = u0 + iv 0 .

1. Express (x0 , y 0 , u0 , v 0 ) as a function of (x, y, u, v).

2. Resolve the system (x0 , y 0 , u0 , v 0 ) = (1, 2, 3, 4).

Solution of exercise 6:

1. One obtains the following system:

 0
 x =x−v
 0

y =y+u

 u0 = x − y + u + 2v
 0
v = x + y − 2u + v

2. The equation (x0 , y 0 , u0 , v 0 ) = (1, 2, 3, 4) gives rise to a system of 4 equations with 4 unknowns
(x, y, u, v) whose extended matrix is:
   
1 0 0 −1 1 1 0 0 −1 1
 0 1 1 0 2   0 1 1 0 2 
 ⇔  
 1 −1 1 2 3   0 −1 1 3 2  L3 ← L3 − L1
1 1 −2 1 4 0 1 −2 2 3 L4 ← L4 − L1
   
1 0 0 −1 1 1 0 0 −1 1
 0 1 1 0 2   0 1 1 0 2 
⇔   ⇔  
 0 0 2 3 4  L3 ← L3 + L2  0 0 2 3 4 
0 0 −3 2 1 L4 ← L4 − L2 0 0 0 13
2 7 L4 ← L4 + 32 L3
One has: v = 14 14 21 5 5 21 14 27
13 , 2u = 4 − 3 13 hence u = 2 − 13 = 13 , y = 2 − 13 = 13 and x = 1 + 13 = 13 .
0 0 0 0
In conclusion, the solution of the equation (x , y , u , v ) = (1, 2, 3, 4) is the 4-uple (x, y, u, v) =
27 21 5 14
( 13 , 13 , 13 , 13 ).

Exercise 7 A biker practices every Sunday by riding from Issy to Labat and back. The road is not flat,
but comprises uphill, downhill, and flat sections. The biker covers 15 kilometers per hour uphill, 20km/h
on flat ground, and 30km/h downhill. He needs two hours from Issy to Labat, and three hours on his way
back. The steepness of the slopes is everywhere 5% (away from the flat sections).

1. How far is Issy from Labat, which town lies higher, and by how much?

4
 2. A second, stronger biker achieves 20km/h uphill, 30km/h on flat, and 40km/h downhill. He needs
only 3h40 for the round trip. Determine all three lengths (of the uphill, downhill, and flat sections).

Solution of exercise 7:
On the journey from Issy to Labat, let x be the length of the uphill section, y the length of the flat section,
and z the length of the downhill section (in kilometers). The data for the first biker translates as

(L1 ) : x/15 + y/20 + z/30 = 2
(L2 ) : x/30 + y/20 + z/15 = 3 .
x y z
1. The addition (L1 + L2 ) yields 10 + 10 + 10 = 5 i.e. x + y + z = 50. The road distance between Issy
and Labat is thus 50km.
The subtraction (L2 − L1 ) yields −x z
30 + 30 = 1 i.e. z − x = 30. The downhill section is 30km longer
5
than the uphill section. Therefore Labat lies 100 · 30 = 1.5km (or 1500m) lower.

2. The third biker gives

     
1 1 1 1 1 1 40
(L3 ) : x + +y + +z + =3+ ,
20 40 30 30 40 20 60

which can be written

3 1 3 11
(L3 ) : x· +y· +z· = .
40 15 40 3
Computing (L1 + L2 − 34 L3 ) to eliminate x and z, we get:
 
1 4 1 4 11
y − · =5− ·
10 3 15 3 3
y
i.e. 90 = 91 : therefore y = 10.
Using the first question, we now have x + z = 50 − 10 = 40 and z − x = 30: the half-sum and
half-difference of these two identities yield x = 5 and z = 35.

Exercise 8 Let a, b, and c be three real numbers.

1. Which relationship should the parameters a, b and c satisfy for the following system to have at least
one solution? 
 x + 2y − 3z = a
Sabc : 2x + 6y − 11z = b
x − 2y + 7z = c


2. Can the system Sabc have a unique solution in R3 ?

Solution of exercise 8:

1. One has: 
 x + 2y − 3z = a
Sabc ⇔ 2y − 5z = b − 2a L2 − 2L1
− 4y + 10z = c − a L3 − L1



 x + 2y − 3z = a
⇔ 2y − 5z = b − 2a .
0 = c + 2b − 5a L3 + 2L2


Therefore the system Sabc admits a solution if and only if the following relationship is satisfied:
c + 2b − 5a = 0.

5
 2. Under the condition c + 2b − 5a = 0, the set of solutions of the system Sabc is the set of vectors ~v of
the form:        
x 3a − b − 2λ 3a − b −2
~v =  y  =  12 (b − 2a + 5λ)  =  2b − a  + λ  25  ,
z λ 0 1
where λ ∈ R is arbitrary. Consequently, there is no way for the system Sabc to admit a unique
solution in R3 : either c + 2b − 5a 6= 0 and it has no solution at all, or c + 2b − 5a = 0 and it has
infinitely many solutions given by the affine line passing through the point (3a − b, 2b − a, 0)T , and
directed by the vector (−2, 25 , 1)T .

Exercise 9 Find, according to the values of the parameter m, the set of solutions of the following systems:
 
x + (m + 1)y = m + 2 mx + (m − 1)y = m + 2
S1 : S2 :
mx + (m + 4)y = 3 (m + 1)x − my = 5m + 3

Solution of exercise 9:

x + (m + 1)y = m + 2
S1 ⇔
(−m2 + 4)y = 3 − 2m − m2 L2 − mL1

• If m2 = 4, then the second equation reads 0 = −1 − 2m which is impossible for m = ±2. Hence for
m2 = 4 the system has no solution.
2
!
2 (m + 2) − (m + 1) 3−2m−m
4−m 2
• If m 6= 4, the system has a unique solution ~v = 3−2m−m2 .
4−m2

For S2 ,
 
3
• if m = 0, then the system has a unique solution ~v = ;
−2
• if m 6= 0 and m 6= −1, the system is equivalent to:

mx + (m − 1)y = m + 2
S2 ⇔
(−2m2 + 1)y = −2(−2m2 + 1) [mL2 − (m + 1)L1 ]
 
1 3
– In the case where m2 6= 2, the system has also a unique solution ~v = ;
−2
– if m2 = 12 then the system has infinitely many solutions lying on the line in R2 whose cartesian
equation is mx + (m − 1)y = m + 2.
√ √
∗ For m = √12 , this equation is equivalent to x+(1− 2)y = 1+ 2 2, and the set of solutions
 √   √ 
2 1+2 2 2−1
is the set of vectors ~v ∈ R of the form ~v = +λ , where λ ∈ R.
0 1
√ √
∗ For m = − √12 , this equation is equivalent to x + (1 + 2)y = 1 − 2 2, and the set of
 √   √ 
2 1−2 2 − 2−1
solutions is the set of vectors ~v ∈ R of the form ~v = +λ ,
0 1
where λ ∈ R.

The conclusion is the following:

 
3
• for m2 6= 12 , the system S2 has a unique solution, the vector ~v = ;
−2
 √   √ 
√1 ,
1+2 2 2−1
• for m = the system has infinitely many solutions given by ~v = +λ ,
2 0 1
where λ ∈ R ;

6
  √ 
1−2 2
• for m = − √12 ,
the system has infinitely many solutions given by ~v ∈ R2 of the form ~v = +
0
 √ 
− 2−1
λ , where λ ∈ R.
1