Why does letting x or z be the parameter give the same solution set?

  • Thread starter Thread starter unscientific
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Infinite
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
unscientific
Messages
1,728
Reaction score
13

Homework Statement



I worked out until the last part of the question and 3 equations with 3 unknowns got reduced to this:

x - 2y + 3z = 1
x + 3z = 3



The Attempt at a Solution




y = 1,
x = 3 -3z

Letting x = λ where λ is any real number,

(x,y,z) = (3,1,0) + λ(-3,0,1)


It wouldn't make a difference if i let z be λ instead right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The solution you give is the same as [itex]x= 3- 3\lambda[/itex], [itex]y= 1[/itex], and [itex]z= \lambda[/itex]. Since [itex]z= \lambda[/itex], it doesn't matter which you use. You can write the solution as [itex](x, y, z)= (3-\lambda, 1, \lambda)[/itex] or as [itex](x, y, z)= (3-z, 1, z)[/itex].