Page 101 - Elementary_Linear_Algebra_with_Applications_Anton__9_edition
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Solution

The augmented matrix is

which can be reduced to row-echelon form as follows:

It is now evident from the third row in the matrix that the system has a solution if and only if , , and satisfy the condition

To express this condition another way,  is consistent if and only if b is a matrix of the form

where and are arbitrary.

EXAMPLE 4 Determining Consistency by Elimination
What conditions must , , and satisfy in order for the system of equations

to be consistent?

Solution

The augmented matrix is

Reducing this to reduced row-echelon form yields (verify)
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