Porisma

Worked solution

Recognise an infinite family rather than one triple

Solve x+2y+3z=1x+2y+3z=1, 2x+4y+6z=22x+4y+6z=2, 2x+3y+z=32x+3y+z=3.

CJC · Lecture · Example 3

Read the free variable

The printed calculator result is x=3+7zx=3+7z, y=−1−5zy=-1-5z, z=zz=z. The last line means that zz is free, not that its value has been found. Write z=tz=t, where t∈Rt\in\mathbb R: all solutions are (x,y,z)=(3+7t,−1−5t,t)(x,y,z)=(3+7t,-1-5t,t).

How did this part go?

Explain dependence and completeness

The second equation is exactly twice the first. Subtract twice the first from the third to obtain −y−5z=1-y-5z=1, hence y=−1−5zy=-1-5z. Substituting in the first gives x=3+7zx=3+7z. Every real zz gives one solution; there is no remaining independent constraint to fix it. Conversely, these elimination steps force every solution to have that form.

How did this part go?

Use the source’s concrete example and verify the family

The speech bubble says that zz can be any real value and x,yx,y depend on it. Its choice z=1z=1 gives x=3+7=10x=3+7=10, y=−1−5=−6y=-1-5=-6. Check (10,−6,1)(10,-6,1): 10−12+3=110-12+3=1, 20−24+6=220-24+6=2, 20−18+1=320-18+1=3. For arbitrary tt, the three left sides simplify to 11, 22, 33 respectively. Thus there are infinitely many solutions; this is a consistent system.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

One pair of equivalent equations does not by itself prove that the whole system has infinitely many solutions: another equation might contradict them. Check all constraints.

Solution notes

Student and Teacher copies compared at PDF pages 5, printed pages 165. No marks are printed.

Read the hint