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Exercise 1778Linear algebra › Matrices and linear systemsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

A linear system with a parameter

#linear system#parameter#discussion

Statement

Discuss and solve, depending on the real parameter mm:
{x+y+z=3x+2y+3z=6x+3y+mz=9\begin{cases} x + y + z = 3 \\ x + 2y + 3z = 6 \\ x + 3y + mz = 9 \end{cases}

Hint

Compute the determinant of the coefficient matrix and discuss according to its value.

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Solution

Determinant. Let AA be the coefficient matrix:
A=(11112313m).A=\begin{pmatrix}1&1&1\\1&2&3\\1&3&m\end{pmatrix}.
Subtract row 11 from rows 22 and 33:
det⁡A=∣11101202m−1∣=1⋅(1⋅(m−1)−2⋅2)=m−5.\det A=\begin{vmatrix}1&1&1\\0&1&2\\0&2&m-1\end{vmatrix}=1\cdot\bigl(1\cdot(m-1)-2\cdot2\bigr)=m-5.

Case m≠5m\neq5: unique solution. Subtract the first equation from the second and from the third:
y+2z=3,2y+(m−1)z=6.y+2z=3,\qquad 2y+(m-1)z=6.
From the first, y=3−2zy=3-2z. Substituting into the second:
2(3−2z)+(m−1)z=6 ⟹ (m−5)z=0.2(3-2z)+(m-1)z=6\ \Longrightarrow\ (m-5)z=0.
Since m≠5m\neq5, this gives z=0z=0, then y=3y=3, and from the first equation x=3−y−z=0x=3-y-z=0. The unique solution is
(x,y,z)=(0,3,0).(x,y,z)=(0,3,0).

Case m=5m=5: infinitely many solutions. The third equation becomes x+3y+5z=9x+3y+5z=9. Subtracting consecutive equations:
L2−L1: y+2z=3,L3−L2: y+2z=3.L_2-L_1:\ y+2z=3,\qquad L_3-L_2:\ y+2z=3.
So the third equation is a consequence of the first two, and the system reduces to
{x+y+z=3y+2z=3.\begin{cases}x+y+z=3\\ y+2z=3.\end{cases}
Choose z=t∈Rz=t\in\mathbb{R}. Then y=3−2ty=3-2t and
x=3−y−z=3−(3−2t)−t=t.x=3-y-z=3-(3-2t)-t=t.
The solutions are (x,y,z)=(t, 3−2t, t)(x,y,z)=(t,\,3-2t,\,t), t∈Rt\in\mathbb{R}.

Verification. At t=0t=0: (0,3,0)(0,3,0) satisfies 0+3+0=30+3+0=3, 0+6+0=60+6+0=6, 0+9+0=90+9+0=9. At t=1t=1: (1,1,1)(1,1,1) satisfies 1+1+1=31+1+1=3, 1+2+3=61+2+3=6, 1+3+5=91+3+5=9. The m≠5m\neq5 solution is the member t=0t=0 of the m=5m=5 family.

Conclusion.
- If m≠5m\neq5: unique solution (x,y,z)=(0,3,0)(x,y,z)=(0,3,0).
- If m=5m=5: infinitely many solutions (x,y,z)=(t, 3−2t, t)(x,y,z)=(t,\,3-2t,\,t), t∈Rt\in\mathbb{R}.