Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/ia/paper-1/5b/solution

Let be the augmented matrix of the linear system. Consistency means that is in the column space of , equivalently . For a consistent system, choosing one solution gives every solution as . The rank-nullity theorem therefore gives the complete classification:
  • Unique: , equivalently .
  • Infinitely many: .
  • None: .
For the given equations, subtracting the first from the second and the second from the third gives
If , then and the first equation gives . If , the first reduced equation is , so the system is inconsistent. Thus
These conclusions can also be checked from , but the row differences exhibit the inconsistency directly.

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