Skip to content
Miscellaneous Exercise 2(B) II · Q87

Q.Solve the following equations by the methods of inversion. x+y+z=1, 2x+3y+2z=2x+y+z=1,\ 2x+3y+2z=2 and ax+ay+2az=4ax+ay+2az=4

Maharashtra MsbshseTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
72% · 87/121 Questions
✓ Free question

Step 1: x+y+z=1, 2x+3y+2z=2, ax+ay+2az=4x+y+z=1,\ 2x+3y+2z=2,\ ax+ay+2az=4 becomes [111232aa2a][xyz]=[124]\begin{bmatrix}1&1&1\\2&3&2\\a&a&2a\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}x\\y\\z\end{bmatrix}=\begin{bmatrix}1\\2\\4\end{bmatrix}.

Step 2: ∣A∣|A|, expanding along row 1: 1(3⋅2a−2⋅a)−1(2⋅2a−2a)+1(2a−3a)=1(4a)−1(2a)+1(−a)=4a−2a−a=a1(3\cdot2a-2\cdot a)-1(2\cdot2a-2a)+1(2a-3a)=1(4a)-1(2a)+1(-a)=4a-2a-a=a.

Step 3: So ∣A∣=a|A|=a; the method of inversion needs ∣A∣≠0|A|\neq0, i.e. a≠0a\neq0 -- a necessary condition stated up front, since dividing by ∣A∣=a|A|=a is only valid then.

Step 4: Solving (by row-reduction, equivalent to the adjoint route but cleaner symbolically): from row 3, ax+ay+2az=4⇒a(x+y)+2az=4ax+ay+2az=4\Rightarrow a(x+y)+2az=4; using row 1, x+y=1−zx+y=1-z, so a(1−z)+2az=4⇒a+az=4⇒z=4−aaa(1-z)+2az=4\Rightarrow a+az=4\Rightarrow z=\dfrac{4-a}{a} (using a≠0a\neq0).

Step 5: From row 2 minus 2×2\timesrow 1: (2x+3y+2z)−2(x+y+z)=2−2(1)⇒y=0(2x+3y+2z)-2(x+y+z)=2-2(1)\Rightarrow y=0.

Step 6: From row 1: x=1−y−z=1−0−4−aa=1−4−aa=a−4+aa=2a−4a=2−4ax=1-y-z=1-0-\dfrac{4-a}{a}=1-\dfrac{4-a}{a}=\dfrac{a-4+a}{a}=\dfrac{2a-4}{a}=2-\dfrac4a.

✓Final answer

x=2−4a, y=0, z=4−aax=2-\dfrac4a,\ y=0,\ z=\dfrac{4-a}{a}, valid whenever a≠0a\neq0 (the coefficient matrix is singular and the method of inversion fails when a=0a=0).

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.