# Is my solution to the system of equations correct?

If I'm told that $T(\vec x)=A\vec x=\vec b$ and $A=\left[\begin{matrix}1&-3&2\\ 3&-8&8\\ 0&1&2\\ 1&0&8\\\end{matrix}\right]$ and that $\vec b=\left[\begin{matrix}1\\6\\3\\10\end{matrix}\right]$. I need to find some vector $\vec x$ that whose image under $T$ is $\vec b$. So normally to do this we set up an augmented matrix like this and solve: $$A=\left[\begin{matrix}1&-3&2&1\\ 3&-8&8&6\\ 0&1&2&3\\ 1&0&8&10\\\end{matrix}\right]$$ I was able to row reduce this to the matrix: $$A=\left[\begin{matrix}1&0&8&10\\ 0&1&2&3\\ 0&0&0&0\\ 0&0&0&0\\\end{matrix}\right]$$ So would that mean that I found the vector $\vec x$ to be $\vec x=\left[\begin{matrix}10\\3\\0\end{matrix}\right]$ as one solution? This would mean that there must be infinite solutions since there is one free variable right?

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Best to present the solution in the form

$$x_3 = \alpha \implies x_1 = 10 - 8 \alpha \implies x_2 = 3 - 2\alpha$$

$$\implies \vec x = \begin{pmatrix} \\ \\ 10 - 8 \alpha \\ \\ 3 - 2\alpha \\ \\ \alpha \\ \\ \end{pmatrix}$$

And yes, this indeed means that since there is a free variable we are denoting $\alpha$, there are infinitely many possible values for $\alpha$, hence an infinite number of solutions to the system.

However, since the values of $x_1, x_2$ depend on $x_3 = \alpha$, we do have that for any fixed $\alpha$, the other variables are then determined. So there are some constraints on the solutions.

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Your answers tend to always make sense :-) Clear and straight to the point. Thanks! – TheHopefulActuary Feb 22 '13 at 0:04
Thanks Kyle, you're welcome! – amWhy Feb 22 '13 at 0:08
Always have trouble to make matrix here.+ – Babak S. Feb 22 '13 at 5:57

The row reduced matrix gives the following: $x_1+8 x_3 = 10$, $x_2+2x_3 = 3$, which can be written as $x_1 = 10-8 x_3$, $x_2 = 3-2 x_3$. So you can choose $x_3$ arbitrarily and then compute the $x_1, x_2$ that satisfies the equations.

The solutions are then given by $\begin{bmatrix}10\\3\\0\end{bmatrix}+ x_3 \begin{bmatrix}-8\\-2\\0\end{bmatrix}$, $x_3 \in \mathbb{R}$.

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