Analyzing the Setup
Welcome, future engineers! Today, we are going to embark on a journey through the elegant world of linear algebra. We have a problem that might look like a daunting wall of variables, but it is actually a beautifully choreographed dance.
We are given two matrices, A and B, and we need to prove something profound about their behavior. Let's break this down together.
The Anatomy of Infinite Solutions
We start with the system AX=U. You are told it has infinitely many solutions. In the language of linear algebra, this is a massive clue.
It tells us two things immediately. First, the determinant of the coefficient matrix A must be zero. If it were non-zero, the system would have a unique solution.
Second, the system must be consistent. This means the equations are not fighting each other; they are essentially saying the same thing in different ways. When we calculate det(A), we expand along the first row and find:
For this to be zero, either ab=1 or c=d. This is our foundation.
The Bridge Between Systems
Now, we need to connect this to matrix B. We write out the equations for AX=U and notice something fascinating. Equations two and three are almost identical.
By subtracting them, we find a consistency condition:
If c=d, then g must equal h for the system to exist. If ab=1, we find another relationship:
These are not just random equations; they are the DNA of our system. They hold the secret to why BX=V behaves the way it does.
The Verdict on det(B)
Next, we look at matrix B. We calculate its determinant, det(B), and expand along the first column. We get an expression involving a,d,h,c,g, and f.
Now, watch the magic happen. When we substitute our consistency conditions from the previous phase into this expression, the terms cancel out perfectly.
Whether c=d or ab=1, the result is always zero. This proves that det(B)=0. Since the determinant is zero, the system BX=V can never have a unique solution.
The Final Blow
Finally, we tackle the condition $afd
eq 0$. We need to prove that BX=V has no solution. We use Cramer's Rule.
We know det(B)=0, so if we can find just one numerator determinant—let's pick Δy—that is non-zero, we have proven the system is inconsistent. We replace the second column of B with V and calculate Δy.
It simplifies to:
Since a,f, and d are non-zero, we just need to ensure c is not zero. Through careful case analysis, we find that in every scenario, Δy (or Δx) is non-zero.
The system is officially inconsistent. You have just navigated a complex proof with logic and precision. Keep this mindset, and no matrix will ever be too intimidating for you!