Another complex system of linear equations

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses a system of linear equations involving complex numbers. Participants explore various methods for solving the equations, share their attempts, and provide detailed steps of their calculations. The focus is on the challenges of handling complex arithmetic in the context of linear algebra.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a system of equations and expresses difficulty in finding the correct solution.
  • Another participant provides a detailed step-by-step solution using row reduction techniques on the augmented matrix.
  • Some participants note the common occurrence of arithmetic errors in complex problems and suggest checking answers repeatedly.
  • A participant proposes that their calculations indicate there may be no solution, based on their interpretation of the row-reduced form of the matrix.
  • There is a correction regarding the last element of the matrix, which some participants acknowledge as a source of confusion.
  • Further calculations are shared, leading to expressions for the variables in terms of one another, with checks against the original equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various interpretations of the results, with some suggesting the possibility of no solution while others continue to explore the implications of their calculations. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of a solution.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential arithmetic errors, the complexity of handling complex numbers, and the need for clarity in the problem statement. The discussion reflects the iterative nature of solving such systems and the importance of verifying each step.

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I guess i didn't get the last one completely because I've been having a hard time with this one. Solve

3x + iy + (2+i)z = 3i

-ix + y + z = 1

x + y + (2+i)z = i


i've tried dividing through by the leading coefficient, and re-arranging it...but can't seem to get the right answer! Thanks again for any help you can provide.
 
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<br /> \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\<br /> -i &amp; 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 1\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\<br /> 1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
Multiply Row 2 by i, remember you can multiply by any constant - and i is just \sqrt{-1}. i*i = -1, i*i*i = -i, i*i*i*i = 1

<br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 2 &amp; 0 &amp; 2 &amp; 2i\\<br /> 1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 2 &amp; 0 &amp; 2 &amp; 2i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; i-1\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; i-1\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
R1 = R1 - R2 and R2 = R2 - R3 and R1 = 1/2 R1

<br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> -1 &amp; i-1 &amp; -3 &amp; -1\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i &amp; i-1 &amp; 0\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; -1 &amp; -1-i &amp; 0\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
R2 = R2 - R1 and R2 = R2 + R3 and R2 = i*R2

<br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; -1 &amp; -1-i &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 1-i<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 1-i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 1-i<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
R3 = R3 - R1 and R2 = R2 + R3

<br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 1-i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 1-i<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
You swap Row2 and Row3 and you get:

<br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 1-i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 1-i<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br /><br /> \ = \left(<br /> \begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right)<br />
R2 = R2 - R3 and you can eliminate Col 4 of R3

And viola! You end up with:
x + z = i
y + (1+i)z = 0
 
Arithmetic errors tend to be common on these types of problems (not just by students!). The added complexity (haha!) of complex arithmetic only makes the problem worse.

I've found that the only reliable method (other than a symbolic calculator!) is to do it, check the answer, and if it's not right, try again. :frown:
 
wow! thanks for the detailed solution! I need to practice these complex systems. Thanks!
 
here's what i got...

\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\-i &amp; 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 1\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R2 = R2 * i
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R1 = R1 - R2
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}2 &amp; 0 &amp; 2 &amp; 2i\\1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R2 = R2 - R3 and R1 = R1 / (2)
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; i-1\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R2 = R2 - R1
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\-1 &amp; i-1 &amp; -3 &amp; -1\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R2 = R2 + R1
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; -1+i\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; 1\end{array}\right)

R3 = R3 - R1
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; -1+i\\0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 1-i\end{array}\right)

R3 = R3 - [(-i-1)/2]R2
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; -1+i\\0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; -i\end{array}\right)

Doesn't that mean there is no solution?
 
ah, the question was written down wrong in the matrix...it's suppose to be

\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\-i &amp; 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 1\\1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; i\end{array}\right)


(notice the last element is an 'i' not a 1) Thanks for everyones reply...i'm going to work with this, and see where it gets me...
 
oh wow I'm sorry my mistake. Give me a minute to correct this
 
\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\<br /> -i &amp; 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 1\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; i<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 3 &amp; i &amp; 2+i &amp; 3i\\<br /> 1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; i<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 2 &amp; 0 &amp; 2 &amp; 2i\\<br /> 1 &amp; i &amp; i &amp; i\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; i<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; 0\\<br /> 1 &amp; 1 &amp; 2+i &amp; i<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i-1 &amp; -2 &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}\right)

\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; i &amp; -1+i &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; -1 &amp; -i-1 &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{xyzk}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 &amp; i\\<br /> 0 &amp; 1 &amp; 1+i &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0<br /> \end{array}\right)

x + z = i -> x = i - z
y + (1+i)z = 0 -> y = -z - iz

Check (from original equation):
3x + iy + (2+i)z = 3i -> 3(i-z) + i(-z -iz) + (2+i)z = 3i -> 3i - 3z -iz +1z + 2z +iz = 3i -> 3i = 3i

-ix + y + z = 1 -> -i(i-z) + (-z-iz) + z = 1 -> 1+iz -z -iz + z = 1 -> 1 = 1

x + y + (2+i)z = i -> i-z -z -iz +(2+i)z = i -> i-2z -iz + 2z +iz = i -> i=i
 
thank you cronxeh, you've been very helpful!
 

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