Firstly, it is essential to understand the concept of linear equations with multiple unknowns. A linear equation with two unknowns is an equation of the form ax + by = c. Here, x and y are variables, and a, b, and c are constants. In this equation, the variables x and y are linear to each other, and they appear with a degree of one. This means that if x is doubled, then y will also have to double accordingly.
A linear equation with multiple unknowns is an equation with more than two variables, such as ax + by + cz = d. The method of solving linear equations with multiple unknowns is the same as that of linear equations with two unknowns. The only difference is the number of variables.
Now let’s look at the steps involved in solving linear equations with multiple unknowns.
Step 1: Write the equation in a standard form
The standard form of a linear equation requires that the variables appear on the left-hand side of the equation, and the constants appear on the right-hand side. For example, consider the equation 4x + 3y + 2z = 14. To write it in standard form, move the constants to the right-hand side:
4x + 3y + 2z – 14 = 0.
Step 2: Represent the Linear Equations in Matrix Form
The linear equation with multiple unknowns can be represented in matrix form as follows:
x = ,
where is the coefficient matrix, x is the vector of unknowns, and is the constant matrix.
The coefficient matrix contains the coefficients of the variables in each equation, and the constant matrix contains the constants. For the equation 4x + 3y + 2z = 14, the coefficient matrix is
= .
The constant matrix is = .
Step 3: Find the Inverse of Coefficient Matrix
To find the value of x, we need to find the inverse of the coefficient matrix .
^-1 x = ^-1 ,
x = ^-1 .
Here, ^-1 is the inverse of the coefficient matrix . If the inverse of the matrix does not exist, then the equation has no unique solution; it may have either no solution or infinite solutions.
Step 4: Calculate the solution
Once we have found the inverse of the coefficient matrix, plug the constant matrix into the equation to find the value of x. For example, if
^-1 = ,
x = = .
Therefore, the solution of the equation 4x + 3y + 2z = 14 is x = 13, y = -13/2, and z = 9.
In conclusion, solving linear algebraic equations with multiple unknowns may seem daunting, but it can be done with determination and the correct knowledge of the principles of linear algebra. The steps outlined above provide a framework for approaching these problems and obtaining the solution accurately. By using matrix representation, inverse calculation and substitution, we can solve equations with more than two variables.