Activity (Process)

Practice: Applying Matrix Row Operations Sequentially

When solving a system of equations, row operations are often applied sequentially to an augmented matrix. For example, consider the matrix:

ight] $$ We can perform the following sequence of operations: 1. Interchange rows $$1$$ and $$3$$: $$ \left[ \begin{array}{ccc|c} -2 & 3 & 0 & -1 \\ 4 & -1 & -4 & 4 \\ 5 & -2 & -2 & -2 \end{array} ight] $$ 2. Multiply row $$3$$ by $$3$$ (denoted $$3R_3$$): $$ \left[ \begin{array}{ccc|c} -2 & 3 & 0 & -1 \\ 4 & -1 & -4 & 4 \\ 15 & -6 & -6 & -6 \end{array} ight] $$ 3. Multiply row $$3$$ by $$2$$ and add to row $$2$$ (denoted $$2R_3 + R_2$$): $$ \left[ \begin{array}{ccc|c} -2 & 3 & 0 & -1 \\ 34 & -13 & -16 & -8 \\ 15 & -6 & -6 & -6 \end{array} ight] $$

0

1

Updated 2026-05-25

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.4 Systems of Linear Equations - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Learn After