The number of solutions of the following system of linear homogeneous equations $x-y+z=0, x+2 y-z=0$ and $2…

The number of solutions of the following system of linear homogeneous equations $x-y+z=0, x+2 y-z=0$ and $2 x+y+3 z=0$ is
  1. 1
  2. 8
  3. Countable infinite
  4. Uncountable

Solution

To find the number od solutions of the following system of linear homogeneous equations. $\begin{aligned} x-y+z & =0 ...(i)\\ x+2 y-z & =0 ...(ii)\\ 2 x+y+3 z & =0 ...(iii)\end{aligned}$ We can write the above equations in matrix form i.e. $ \left[\begin{array}{ccc} 1 & -1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & -1 \\ 2 & 1 & 3 \end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{l} x \\ y \\ z \end{array}\right]=0 $ or $A X=0$, where $A=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}1 & -1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & -1 \\ 2 & 1 & 3\end{array}\right]$ Since, we know that, if $|A|=0$, then only a non-trivial solution exist. Consider, $|A|=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}1 & -1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & -1 \\ 2 & 1 & 3\end{array}\right]$ $ \begin{aligned} & \therefore|A|=1[2 \times 3-(-1)]+1[3+2]+1[1-4] \\ & \quad=7+5-3=9 \neq 0 \\ & \because|A| \neq 0 \end{aligned} $ Hence, there is no non-trivial solutions. $\Rightarrow$ There will be only 1 trivial solution

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2021 (25 Aug Shift 2)

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