How do you solve 5x + 3y = -4.55x+3y=4.5 and 2x + 1.2y = -1.82x+1.2y=1.8 using matrices?

1 Answer
Nov 4, 2017

no solution, the lines are parallel .

Explanation:

5x+3y=-4.5--(1)5x+3y=4.5(1)

2x+1.2y=-1.8--(2)2x+1.2y=1.8(2)

in matrix form

((5,3),(2,1.2))((x),(y))=((-4.5),(-1.8))

to use matrices we need the inverse of the 2xx2 matrix

to do this we need its determinant so we will do this first

Delta=|(5,3),(2,1.2)|

=5xx1.2-2xx3

=6-6=0

Delta=0:.the inverse does not exist, so there are no solutions to the equations.

In fact eqn(1)=2.5xxeqn(2) which means they are parallel lines and do not intersect