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Question on matrices?

3 w+4 x+11 y+24 z= 14

5w+7x+19y+41z=24

Why are there infinitely many solutions with two arbitrary parameters?

and how would you find out what w,x,y, and z are equivalent to?

Update:

If a variable is not an arbitrary parameter, I believe there is a solution for it.. I don't know how it would be done.

Update 2:

Diane, my mom went to Bryn Mawr.

1 Answer

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You have an underdetermined system here - four unknowns and only two equations. There is, therefore, a set of solutions - in fact, an entire three-space of them.

    I'm not sure what you mean by what the variables "are equivalent to". The system as it stands cannot be solved. You can surely solve either equation for any variable you like and eliminate one of them from the system all together.

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