Math

Solving systems with matrices.

Definition

Using matrix operations to solve systems of linear equations. The system is written in matrix form Ax = b, and solutions can be found using inverse matrices (x = A⁻¹b), row reduction (Gaussian elimination), or Cramer's rule with determinants.

How it works · 4 phases

Step by step.

  1. Write the system of equations as an augmented matrix [A|b].
  2. Use row operations to reduce to row echelon or reduced row echelon form.
  3. Back-substitute to find each variable.
  4. Alternatively, compute A⁻¹ and multiply by b to get x = A⁻¹b.
Examples

Real-world.

  • 1 Solving 2x + y = 5, x − y = 1 using an augmented matrix and row reduction
  • 2 Using a graphing calculator's matrix function to solve a 3×3 system
Studied in

1 unit use this concept.