Introduction

Engineers often need to solve large systems of linear equations; for example in determining the forces in a large framework or finding currents in a complicated electrical circuit. The method of Gauss elimination provides a systematic approach to their solution.

Prerequisites

• be familiar with matrix algebra

Learning Outcomes

• identify the row operations which allow the reduction of a system of linear equations to upper triangular form
• use back-substitution to solve a system of equations in echelon form
• understand and use the method of Gauss elimination to solve a system of three simultaneous linear equations