Gaussian Elimination: Solving Homework Problem

[Physicaa]

Homework Statement

I started with the following equations :

3w+2x+3y+z=76
w+2x+2y+z=59
w/2+x+y+z/4=21

Homework Equations

Gaussian elimination

The Attempt at a Solution

So I got the following after applying Gauss' method :

3w+2x+3y+z=76

-4x-3y-2z=-101

3/2z=51
which gives z=34

Then I get y=11-(4/3)x

w=3+2/3x

Does it make any sense ? I compared it with wolfram and it seems like the only good thing that I got was the z=34...

 

[vela]

You need to show your work. If all you do is post the wrong answer you got at the end, the best we can say is that you messed up somewhere.

 

[Physicaa]

You need to show your work. If all you do is post the wrong answer you got at the end, the best we can say is that you messed up somewhere.

ok here are images :

http://imgur.com/c24mDNr

http://imgur.com/rXI49o2

http://imgur.com/a5fpiHE

Hope it helpls...

 

[Samy_A]

Homework Statement

I started with the following equations :

3w+2x+3y+z=76
w+2x+2y+z=59
w/2+x+y+z/4=21

Homework Equations

Gaussian elimination

The Attempt at a Solution

So I got the following after applying Gauss' method :

3w+2x+3y+z=76

-4x-3y-2z=-101

3/2z=51
which gives z=34

Then I get y=11-(4/3)x

w=3+2/3x

Does it make any sense ? I compared it with wolfram and it seems like the only good thing that I got was the z=34...

Why do you think your solution is wrong?
Dit you try to substitute what you found for w,y,z in the three equations to check if they add up?

 

[Physicaa]

Why do you think your solution is wrong?
Dit you try to substitute what you found for w,y,z in the three equations to check if they add up?

I think it's wrong because wolfram gives me something different.

Here : http://www.wolframalpha.com/widgets/view.jsp?id=ae438682ce61743f90d4693c497621b7

Try this and see. The only good thing that I get is 34.

 

[Samy_A]

I think it's wrong because wolfram gives me something different.

Here : http://www.wolframalpha.com/widgets/view.jsp?id=ae438682ce61743f90d4693c497621b7

Try this and see. The only good thing that I get is 34.

That link doesn't show any equation or solution.
Forget Wolfram for a moment, just try your solution: check if it fits the three equations.

EDIT: I copy pasted the equations in the link you gave and got this result:

Is this wat Wolfram told you? If so, how does this compare to your solution?

 

[Physicaa]

That link doesn't show any equation or solution.
Forget Wolfram for a moment, just try your solution: check if it fits the three equations.

EDIT: I copy pasted the equations in the link you gave and got this result:
View attachment 95963

Is this wat Wolfram told you? If so, how does this compare to your solution?

Ok so I am going to compute the following equations z=34, y=11-4/3x w=3+2/3x, x=33/4-3/4y

 

[Samy_A]

Ok so I am going to compute the following equations z=34, y=11-4/3x w=3+2/3x, x=33/4-3/4y

Now you are turning in circles: y in terms of x, x in terms of y: that doesn't make much sense.

Your solution was:
$w=3+\frac{2}{3}x$
$y=11-\frac{4}{3}x$
$z=34$
Plug these values in the equations and see if it all adds up or not.

 

[Physicaa]

Now you are turning in circles: y in terms of x, x in terms of y: that doesn't make much sense.

Your solution was:
$w=3+\frac{2}{3}x$
$y=11-\frac{4}{3}x$
$z=34$
Plug these values in the equations and see if it all adds up or not.

I was finally able to make the equations be true by pluggin these equations :

z=34, y=t, x=(33-3t)/4 , w=(17-t)/2

It seems to work with these.

 

[Samy_A]

I was finally able to make the equations be true by pluggin these equations :

z=34, y=t, x=(33-3t)/4 , w=(17-t)/2

It seems to work with these.

Your first solution was correct (you should have checked). This one is correct (although I don't see why you need t and don't just use y). The one from Wolfram is also correct.
You can express w and y in terms of x, as you did in the first post. Or x and w in terms of y, as you do here. Wolfram gave x and y in terms of w.

 

[Ray Vickson]

Homework Statement

I started with the following equations :

3w+2x+3y+z=76
w+2x+2y+z=59
w/2+x+y+z/4=21

Homework Equations

Gaussian elimination

The Attempt at a Solution

So I got the following after applying Gauss' method :i

3w+2x+3y+z=76

-4x-3y-2z=-101

3/2z=51
which gives z=34

Then I get y=11-(4/3)x

w=3+2/3x

Does it make any sense ? I compared it with wolfram and it seems like the only good thing that I got was the z=34...

Since you have 3 equations in 4 unknowns, you can express solutions in many ways. You can solve for (x,y,z) in terms of w (to get x = -9/2+3/2*w, y = 17-2*w, z = 34), or you can solve for (x,z,w) in terms of y or for (y,z,w) in terms of x. (However, if you try to solve for (x,y,w) in terms of z you will find that something goes wrong, so you cannot do it!)