1 Solving a system of two equations using the inverse matrix
If we have one linear equation
in which the unknown is and and are constants and then .
What happens if we have more than one equation and more than one unknown? In this Section we copy the algebraic solution used for a single equation to solve a system of linear equations. As we shall see, this will be a very natural way of solving the system if it is first written in matrix form.
Consider the system
In matrix form this becomes
If exists then the solution is
Task!
Given the matrix find its determinant. What does this tell you about ?
since then exists.
Now find
Task!
Solve the system where and is .
. Hence
Task!
Use the inverse matrix method to solve
is
and
Using :
So