Chapter 62

The solution of simultaneous

equations by matrices and
determinants
62.1

Solution of simultaneous
equations by matrices

Problem 1. Use matrices to solve the

simultaneous equations:

(a) The procedure for solving linear simultaneous

equations in two unknowns using matrices is:
(i) write the equations in the form

3x + 5y 7 = 0

(1)

4x 3y 19 = 0

(2)

(i) Writing the equations in the a1 x + b1 y = c form

gives:
3x + 5y = 7

a1 x + b1 y = c1
a2 x + b2 y = c2

4x 3y = 19
(ii) write the matrix equation corresponding to
these equations,

i.e.

a1
a2

    
x
c
b1

= 1
y
b2
c2


(iii) determine the inverse matrix of

i.e.

1
a1 b2 b1 a2

b2
a2

b1
a1

a1
a2

b1
b2

(from Chapter 61)

(iv) multiply each side of (ii) by the inverse
matrix, and
(v) solve for x and y by equating corresponding
elements.

(ii) The matrix equation is


    
3
5
x
7

=
4 3
y
19


3
5
(iii) The inverse of matrix
is
4 3


1
3 5
3
3 (3) 5 4 4

3
5
29 29

i.e.
4 3
29 29
(iv) Multiplying each side of (ii) by (iii) and remembering that A A1 = I, the unit matrix, gives:
3
5  

 
1 0
x
7

= 29 29
0 1
y
19
4 3
29 29

The solution of simultaneous equations by matrices and determinants 547

i.e.

95
29

57
29

(i) Writing the equations in the a1 x + b1 y + c1 z = d1

form gives:
x+y+z=4
2x 3y + 4z = 33
3x 2y 2z = 2
(ii) The matrix equation is

1
1
1
x
4
2 3
4 y = 33
3 2 2
z
2
(iii) The inverse matrix of

1
1
1
4
A = 2 3
3 2 2

(v) By comparing corresponding elements:

x = 4 and

y = 1

Checking:
equation (1),
3 4 + 5 (1) 7 = 0 = RHS
equation (2),
4 4 3 (1) 19 = 0 = RHS

is given by
A1 =

(b) The procedure for solving linear simultaneous

equations in three unknowns using matrices is:
(i) write the equations in the form
a1 x + b1 y + c1 z = d1
a2 x + b2 y + c2 z = d2
a3 x + b3 y + c3 z = d3
(ii) write the matrix equation corresponding to
these equations, i.e.

x
d1
a 1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2 y = d2
z
a3 b3 c3
d3
(iii) determine the inverse matrix of

a1 b 1 c 1
a2 b2 c2 (see Chapter 61)
a3 b3 c3

adj A
|A|

The adjoint of A is the transpose of the matrix

of the cofactors of the elements (see Chapter 61).
The matrix of cofactors is

14 16
5
0 5
5
7 2 5
and the transpose of this matrix gives

14
0
7
adj A = 16 5 2
5
5 5
The determinant of A, i.e. the sum of the products
of elements and their cofactors, using a first row
expansion is
1

3
2

4
2
1
2
3

4
2
+1
2
3

3
2

= (1 14) (1 ( 16)) + (1 5) = 35

(iv) multiply each side of (ii) by the inverse

matrix, and
(v) solve for x, y and z by equating the corresponding elements.
Problem 2. Use matrices to solve the
simultaneous equations:
x+y+z4=0

(1)

2x 3y + 4z 33 = 0

(2)

3x 2y 2z 2 = 0

(3)

Hence the inverse of A,

14
1
16
A1 =
35
5

0
5
5

7
2
5

(iv) Multiplying each side of (ii) by (iii), and remembering that A A1 = I, the unit matrix, gives

1 0 0
x
0 1 0 y
0 0 1
z

14
0
7
4
1
16 5 2 33
=
35
5
5 5
2

Section 10

Thus

21
 
+
x

= 29
y
28

29
   
x
4
=
y
1

548 Engineering Mathematics

x
y =
z

simultaneous equations:

I1 + 2I2 + 4 = 0
5I1 + 3I2 1 = 0

(14 4) + (0 33) + (7 2)
1
(16 4) + (( 5) 33) + (( 2) 2)
35 (5 4) + (5 33) + (( 5) 2)

70
1
105
=
35
175

Use matrices to solve for I1 and I2 .

[I1 = 2, I2 = 3]
7. The relationship between the displacement,
s, velocity, v, and acceleration, a, of a piston
is given by the equations:
s + 2v + 2a = 4
3s v + 4a = 25
3s + 2v a = 4

2
= 3
5
(v) By comparing corresponding elements, x = 2,
y = 3, z = 5, which can be checked in the
original equations.

Use matrices to determine the values of s, v

and a.
[s = 2, v = 3, a = 4]
8. In a mechanical system, acceleration x ,
velocity x and distance x are related by the
simultaneous equations:
3.4x + 7.0x 13.2x = 11.39
6.0x + 4.0x + 3.5x = 4.98
2.7x + 6.0x + 7.1x = 15.91

Now try the following exercise

Exercise 214 Further problems on solving
simultaneous equations using
matrices
In Problems 1 to 5 use matrices to solve the
simultaneous equations given.
1. 3x + 4y = 0
2x + 5y + 7 = 0

[x = 4, y = 3]

2. 2p + 5q + 14.6 = 0
3.1p + 1.7q + 2.06 = 0
[ p = 1.2, q = 3.4]

Section 10

3. x + 2y + 3z = 5
2x 3y z = 3
3x + 4y + 5z = 3

Use matrices to find the values of x , x and x.

[x = 0.5, x = 0.77, x = 1.4]

62.2

Solution of simultaneous
equations by determinants

(a) When solving linear simultaneous equations in two

unknowns using determinants:
(i) write the equations in the form
a1 x + b 1 y + c 1 = 0
a2 x + b2 y + c2 = 0

[x = 1, y = 1, z = 2]

4. 3a + 4b 3c = 2
2a + 2b + 2c = 15
7a 5b + 4c = 26
[a = 2.5, b = 3.5, c = 6.5]
5. p + 2q + 3r + 7.8 = 0
2p + 5q r 1.4 = 0
5p q + 7r 3.5 = 0
[ p = 4.1, q = 1.9, r = 2.7]
6. In two closed loops of an electrical circuit, the currents flowing are given by the

and then
(ii) the solution is given by
x
y
1
=
=
Dx
Dy
D
where

Dx =

b1
b2

c1
c2

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients left

when the x-column is covered up,
Dy =

a1
a2

c1
c2

The solution of simultaneous equations by matrices and determinants 549

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients left
when the y-column is covered up,
D=

a1
a2

b1
b2

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients left

when the constants-column is covered up.
Problem 3. Solve the following simultaneous
equations using determinants:

(i) 3x 4y 12 = 0
7x + 5y 6.5 = 0

where Du is the determinant of coefficients left

when the u column is covered up,
i.e.

x
(4)(6.5) (12)(5)
y
(3)(6.5) (12)(7)
1
=
(3)(5) (4)(7)
x
y
1
=
=
26 + 60
19.5 + 84
15 + 28
x
y
1
=
=
86
64.5
43
1
86
x
=
then x =
=2
86
43
43

Similarly,

Since
and since

1
y
=
then
64.5
43
64.5
y=
= 1.5
43
Problem 4. The velocity of a car, accelerating at
uniform acceleration a between two points, is given
by v = u + at, where u is its velocity when passing
the first point and t is the time taken to pass
between the two points. If v = 21 m/s when
t = 3.5 s and v = 33 m/s when t = 6.1 s, use
determinants to find the values of u and a, each
correct to 4 significant figures.

3.5
6.1

21
33

= 12.6
1 21
Da =
1 33
= (1)(33) (21)(1)
= 12

i.e.

Du =

= (3.5)(33) (21)(6.1)

x
y
1
=
=
12
3 12
3 4
6.5
7 6.5
7
5

i.e.

(2)

u
a
1
=
=
Du
Da
D

Following the above procedure:

i.e.

33 = u + 6.1a

(ii) The solution is given by

7x + 5y = 6.5

4
5

(1)

(i) The equations are written in the form

a1 x + b1 y + c1 = 0,
i.e.
u + 3.5a 21 = 0
and
u + 6.1a 33 = 0

3x 4y = 12

(ii)

21 = u + 3.5a

and

Thus
i.e.
and

D=

1
1

3.5
6.1

= (1)(6.1) (3.5)(1) = 2.6

u
a
1
=
=
12.6 12
2.6
12.6
u=
= 4.846 m/s
2.6
12
a=
= 4.615 m/s2 ,
2.6
each correct to 4 significant
figures

Problem 5. Applying Kirchhoffs laws to an

electric circuit results in the following equations:
(9 + j12)I1 (6 + j8)I2 = 5
(6 + j8)I1 + (8 + j3)I2 = (2 + j4)
Solve the equations for I1 and I2
Following the procedure:
(i) (9 + j12)I1 (6 + j8)I2 5 = 0
(6 + j8)I1 + (8 + j3)I2 (2 + j4) = 0

Section 10

and

Substituting the given values in v = u + at gives:

550 Engineering Mathematics

(ii)

I1

i.e., the determinant of the coefficients

obtained by covering up the y column.

(6 + j8)
5
(8 + j3) (2 + j4)
=

I2
(9 + j12)
5
(6 + j8) (2 + j4)
I
=
(9 + j12) (6 + j8)
(6 + j8) (8 + j3)

I1
(20 + j40) + (40 + j15)

a1
D z = a2
a3

I2
(30 j60) (30 + j40)
1
=
(36 + j123) (28 + j96)
I1
I2
1
=
=
20 + j55 j100
64 + j27
20 + j55
Hence I1 =
64 + j27

a1
D = a2
a3

b1
b2
b3

c1
c2
c3

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients

obtained by covering up the constants
column.
Problem 6. A d.c. circuit comprises three closed
loops. Applying Kirchhoffs laws to the closed
loops gives the following equations for current flow
in milliamperes:
2I1 + 3I2 4I3 = 26

58.5270.02
= 0.8447.15 A
69.4622.87
10090
I2 =
= 1.4467.13 A
69.4622.87
=

and

d1
d2
d3

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients

obtained by covering up the z column.
and

b1
b2
b3

I1 5I2 3I3 = 87
7I1 + 2I2 + 6I3 = 12
Use determinants to solve for I1 , I2 and I3

(b) When solving simultaneous equations in three

unknowns using determinants:

(i) Writing the equations in the

a1 x + b1 y + c1 z + d1 = 0 form gives:

(i) Write the equations in the form

2I1 + 3I2 4I3 26 = 0

a1 x + b 1 y + c 1 z + d 1 = 0

I1 5I2 3I3 + 87 = 0

a2 x + b2 y + c2 z + d2 = 0

7I1 + 2I2 + 6I3 12 = 0

a3 x + b3 y + c3 z + d3 = 0

(ii) The solution is given by

I1
I2
I3
1
=
=
=
DI 1
DI2
DI3
D

and then
(ii) the solution is given by

Section 10

y
z
1
x
=
=
=
Dx
Dy
Dz
D

where

b1
D = x b2
b3

c1
c2
c3

d1
d2
d3

i.e. the determinant of the coefficients

obtained by covering up the x column.
a1
Dy = a2
a3

c1
c2
c3

d1
d2
d3

where DI1 is the determinant of coefficients

obtained by covering up the I1 column, i.e.
3
DI1 = 5
2
= (3)

4
3
6

3
6

26
87
12

87
5
(4)
12
2

87
12

+ (26)
= 3(486) + 4(114) 26(24)
= 1290

5
2

3
6

The solution of simultaneous equations by matrices and determinants 551

DI 2 =

4
3
6

2
1
7

26
87
12

= (2)(36 522) (4)(12 + 609)

+ (26)(6 21)
= 972 + 2388 + 390
= 1806
D I3 =

2
1
7

3
5
2

26
87
12

= (2)(60 174) (3)(12 + 609)

+ (26)(2 35)
= 228 1791 + 858 = 1161
and D =

2
1
7

3
5
2

4
3
6

= (2)(30 + 6) (3)(6 21)

+ (4)(2 35)
= 48 + 45 + 132 = 129
Thus

I1
I2
I3
1
=
=
=
1290
1806
1161
129

giving
1290
= 10 mA,
129
1806
I2 =
= 14 mA
129
1161
and I3 =
= 9 mA
129
I1 =

Now try the following exercise

3. 3x + 4y + z = 10
2x 3y + 5z + 9 = 0
x + 2y z = 6

[x = 1, y = 2, z = 1]

4. 1.2p 2.3q 3.1r + 10.1 = 0

4.7p + 3.8q 5.3r 21.5 = 0
3.7p 8.3q + 7.4r + 28.1 = 0
[p = 1.5, q = 4.5, r = 0.5]
1
x y 2z
+ =
5.
2 3
5
20
x 2y z 19
+
=
4
3
2 40
59
x+yz=
60 

7
17
5
x= , y= , z=
20
40
24
6. In a system of forces, the relationship
between two forces F1 and F2 is given by:
5F1 + 3F2 + 6 = 0
3F1 + 5F2 + 18 = 0
Use determinants to solve for F1 and F2
[F1 = 1.5, F2 = 4.5]
7. Applying mesh-current analysis to an a.c.
circuit results in the following equations:
(5 j4)I1 (j4)I2 = 1000
(4 + j3 j4)I2 (j4)I1 = 0
Solve the equations for I1 and I2 .

I1 = 10.7719.23 A,
I2 = 10.4556.73 A
8. Kirchhoffs laws are used to determine the
current equations in an electrical network and
show that
i1 + 8i2 + 3i3 = 31

In Problems 1 to 5 use determinants to solve the

simultaneous equations given.
1. 3x 5y = 17.6
7y 2x 22 = 0
2. 2.3m 4.4n = 6.84
8.5n 6.7m = 1.23

3i1 2i2 + i3 = 5
2i1 3i2 + 2i3 = 6
Use determinants to solve for i1 , i2 and i3 .
[i1 = 5, i2 = 4, i3 = 2]
9. The forces in three members of a framework
are F1 , F2 and F3 . They are related by the
simultaneous equations shown below.

[x = 1.2, y = 2.8]

1.4F1 + 2.8F2 + 2.8F3 = 5.6

4.2F1 1.4F2 + 5.6F3 = 35.0

[m = 6.4, n = 4.9]

4.2F1 + 2.8F2 1.4F3 = 5.6

Section 10

Exercise 215 Further problems on solving

simultaneous equations using
determinants

552 Engineering Mathematics

Find the values of F1 , F2 and F3 using
determinants
[F1 = 2, F2 = 3, F3 = 4]
10. Mesh-current analysis produces the following three equations:

Problem 7. Solve the following simultaneous

equations using Cramers rule
x+y+z=4
2x 3y + 4z = 33
3x 2y 2z = 2

200 = (5 + 3 j4)I1 (3 j4 )I2

1090 = (3 j4 + 2)I2 (3 j4 )I1 2I3
15 0 1090 = (12 + 2)I3 2I2

(This is the same as Problem 2 and a comparison of

methods may be made). Following the above method:
1
D= 2
3

Solve the equations for the loop currents I1 ,

I2 and I3 .

I1 = 3.31722.57 A,
I2 = 1.96340.97A and
I3 = 1.010148.32 A

62.3

a11 x + a12 y + a13 z = b1

4
D = 33
2

a11
D = a21
a31
b1
Dx = b2
b3

a12
a22
a32
a12
a22
a32

a13
a23
a33

1
Dy = 2
3

Section 10

a11
Dy = a21
a31

b1
b2
b3

a13
a23
a33

i.e. the y-column has been replaced by the R.H.S. b

column,
a11
Dz = a21
a31

a12
a22
a32

b1
b2
b3

i.e. the z-column has been replaced by the R.H.S. b

column.

4
33
2

1
4
2

= 1((66) 8) 4((4) 12) + 1(4 99)

= 74 + 64 95 = 105
1
2
Dz =
3

1
3
2

4
33
2

= 1((6) (66)) 1(4 99)

+ 4((4) (9)) = 60 + 95 + 20 = 175
Hence

a13
a23
a33

i.e. the x-column has been replaced by the R.H.S. b

column,

1
4
2

+ 1((66) (6)) = 56 + 74 60 = 70

a31 x + a32 y + a33 z = b3

where

1
3
2

= 4(6 (8)) 1((66) 8)

a21 x + a22 y + a23 z = b2

Dy
Dx
Dz
then x =
, y=
and z =
D
D
D

1
4
2

= 1(6 (8)) 1((4) 12)

+ 1((4) (9)) = 14 + 16 + 5 = 35

Solution of simultaneous
equations using Cramers rule

Cramers rule states that if

1
3
2

Dy
Dx
70
105
=
= 2, y =
=
= 3
D
35
D
35
Dz
175
z=
=
=5
D
35

x=
and

Now try the following exercise

Exercise 216 Further problems on solving
simultaneous equations using
Cramers rule
1. Repeat problems 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of Exercise
214 on page 548, using Cramers rule.
2. Repeat problems 3, 4, 8 and 9 of Exercise 215
on page 551, using Cramers rule.