Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Gaussian Elimination
Gaussian elimination is a systematic method for solving systems of linear equations. It involves transforming the system's augmented matrix into row echelon form using a series of row operations, which include swapping rows, multiplying a row by a non-zero scalar, and adding or subtracting rows. This process simplifies the equations, making it easier to find solutions or determine if no solution exists.
Recommended video:
Solving Systems of Equations - Elimination
Row Echelon Form
Row echelon form is a specific arrangement of a matrix where all non-zero rows are above any rows of all zeros, and the leading coefficient of each non-zero row (the first non-zero number from the left) is to the right of the leading coefficient of the previous row. This form is crucial in Gaussian elimination as it allows for back substitution to find the values of the variables in a linear system.
Recommended video:
Solving Systems of Equations - Matrices (Row-Echelon Form)
Existence of Solutions
In the context of linear systems, the existence of solutions refers to whether a system has one unique solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solution at all. This can be determined during the Gaussian elimination process by examining the final row echelon form of the augmented matrix. If a row leads to a contradiction (like 0 = 1), the system has no solution; if there are free variables, it indicates infinitely many solutions.
Recommended video:
Probability of Non-Mutually Exclusive Events