[Math] System of Linear Equations – how many solutions

linear algebrasystems of equations

For which real values of t does the following system of linear equations:

$$
\left\{
\begin{array}{c}
tx_1 + x_2 + x_3 = 1 \\
x_1 + tx_2 + x_3 = 1 \\
x_1 + x_2 + tx_3 = 1
\end{array}
\right.
$$

Have:
a) a unique solution?
b) infinitely many solutions?
c) no solutions?

I haven't done linear algebra in almost a year, so I'm really rusty and could use some pushes in the right direction.

Best Answer

Hint: You can write your system of equations in vector/matrix form:

$\begin{bmatrix}t&1&1\\1&t&1\\1&1&t\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}x_1\\x_2\\x_3\end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix}1\\1\\1\end{bmatrix}$

This has now the form $Ax = b$ where $A$ is the matrix $x$ the unknown and $b$ the vector of ones. If it can be solved the solution would be $x=A^{-1}b$. Now I recommend (as the other commentors) determining whether you can solve this by consulting the determinant of $A$ or the gaussian algorithm.

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