Gaussian Elimination/Examples/Arbitrary Matrix 1
Example of Use of Gaussian Elimination
Let $\mathbf A$ denote the matrix:
- $\mathbf A = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 5 & 35 & -24 & 1 \\ 0 & 2 & 1 & -1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 3 & 2 & 2 & -1 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 0 & 1 \end {bmatrix}$
The reduced echelon form of $\mathbf A$ is:
- $\mathbf E = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & -4 & 0 & 26 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 7 & 0 & -43 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & -9 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end {bmatrix}$
Proof
$(1): \quad$ Use the elementary row operation $r_4 \leftrightarrow r_5$ to move the zero row to the bottom
$(2): \quad$ Use the elementary row operation $r_2 \to \dfrac {r_2} 2$ to put a leading $1$ in row $2$
$(3): \quad$ Use the elementary row operation $r_2 \leftrightarrow r_1$ to put the row with the leftmost leading $1$ at the top.
Hence we get matrix $\mathbf A_1$:
- $\mathbf A_1 = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 1 & \dfrac 1 2 & -\dfrac 1 2 & \dfrac 1 2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 5 & 35 & -24 & 1 \\ 0 & 3 & 2 & 2 & -1 & 1 \\ 0 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end {bmatrix}$
$(4): \quad$ Use the following elementary row operations:
- $r_3 \leftrightarrow r_3 - 3 r_1$
- $r_4 \leftrightarrow r_4 - 5 r_1$
to clear column $2$.
Hence we get matrix $\mathbf A_2$:
- $\mathbf A_2 = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 1 & \dfrac 1 2 & -\dfrac 1 2 & \dfrac 1 2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 5 & 35 & -24 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & \dfrac 1 2 & \dfrac 7 2 & -\dfrac 5 2 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & \dfrac 1 2 & \dfrac 7 2 & -\dfrac 5 2 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end {bmatrix}$
$(5): \quad$ Use the following elementary row operations:
- $r_2 \leftrightarrow r_3$
- $r_1 \to r_1 - r_2$
- $r_4 \to r_4 - r_2$
- $r_3 \to r_3 - 10 r_1$
- $r_2 \to 2 r_2$
Hence we get matrix $\mathbf A_3$:
- $\mathbf A_3 = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & -4 & 3 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 7 & -5 & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & -9 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end {bmatrix}$
$(6): \quad$ Use the following elementary row operations:
- $r_1 \to r_1 - 3 r_3$
- $r_2 \to r_2 + 5 r_3$
Hence we get matrix $\mathbf A_3$:
- $\mathbf A_3 = \begin {bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & -4 & 0 & 26 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 7 & 0 & 43 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & -9 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end {bmatrix}$
$\blacksquare$
Different sequences of elementary row operations can be used, but it is necessary to be precise about the order in which they are applied.
Sources
- 1982: A.O. Morris: Linear Algebra: An Introduction (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Linear Equations and Matrices: $1.2$ Elementary Row Operations on Matrices: Example