[Math] Gauss-Jordan Elimination to solve for variables

gaussian eliminationlinear algebramatricessystems of equations

I have the following linear system:

$$x + 2y – 3z = 4$$
$$3x – y + 5z = 2$$
$$4x + y + (s^2 – 14)z = s+2$$

Im trying to solve for $s$ to figure out how many solutions it has (if any).

I know how to implement Gauss-Jordan Elimination on matrices without variables but any help on how to go about solving this?

Best Answer

First we eliminate the first terms taking 3 of the first row from the second and 4 of the first row from the third, to get $$x+2y-3z=4$$ $$-7y+14z=-10$$ $$-7y+(s^{2}-2)z=s-14$$

Then we simply take 1 of the new second row from the new third row, and our transformed system is just $$x+2y-3z=4$$ $$-7y+14z=-10$$ $$(s^{2}-16)z=s-4$$

If $s=+4$, the last equation becomes $0=0$ and your set is underdetermined, with solution $$x=z+\frac{20}{7}, \quad y=2z+\frac{10}{7}$$ for any $z$. The solutions lie on a line.

If $s=-4$, the last equation becomes $0=-8$, and your set is overdetermined, with no solution.

If $s$ is any other value, then simply $z=\frac{1}{s+4}$ and the other variables can be found by back-substitution. This solution is unique.