Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/ia/paper-1/2b/iii/solution

When but , the dependent coefficient rows would require an impossible equality between their right-hand sides. Thus the augmented matrix has larger matrix rank than the coefficient matrix, and the linear system is inconsistent. For part (i) already supplies a unique solution. Consequently there is no solution exactly when and .

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