438 ACTIVITY 3: Matrix Row Operations

WHY:

This activity introduces the concept of an elementary row matrix and illustrates how these matrices are useful in computer implementation of the Gauss elimination process. Row reduction techniques will be used throughout the first half of the course when we are studying linear programming and its prerequisites. Using the computer to perform repetitive matrix operations removes many of the sources of error common to pencil and paper work.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  1. Discover the role of elementary matrices in row reduction.
  2. Discover the relationship between elementary matrices and the inverse of a matrix.
  3. Provide an opportunity to experience cooperative group learning using MAPLE.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

  1. Quality of the answers to the Critical Thinking Questions.
  2. Understanding how Gauss elimination can be done using matrix multiplication of elementary matrices.

INFORMATION:

Matrices:
A matrix is a set of numbers organized in rows and columns.

Matrices as Named Variables:
You can assign a name to a matrix and treat the matrix as a variable.

Identity Matrix:
This is a special square matrix which is zero except for ones down the diagonal.

        1  0  0          1  0           1  0  0  0
        0  1  0          0  1           0  1  0  0
        0  0  1                         0  0  1  0
                                        0  0  0  1


Coefficient Matrix for a System of Equations:
You can write in matrix form the coefficients of the variables in a system of equations.

Augmented Matrix:
You can attach the constants on the right sides of the equalities of a system of equations as the last column of the coefficient matrix.

Elementary Row Operation:
You can do the same things to the augmented matrix that you can do to the system of equations:
  1. Interchange rows
  2. Multiply a row by a constant, changing that row
  3. Use a pivot row to change a target row by multiplying the pivot row by a constant and adding the resulting products to the target row. The pivot row is not changed.


Elementary Matrix:
This is a matrix formed by applying an elementary row operation to an Identity matrix.

                    0  1  0             2  0  0             1  0  0  
             (1)    1  0  0     (2)     0  1  0      (3)    0  1  3  target row
                    0  0  1             0  0  1             0  0  1  pivot row
	   Exchange rows 1 & 2	   Multiply row 1 by 2	  Mult row 3 by 3
							  and add it to row 2


Equivalent Matrices:
Matrices are equivalent if we can change one into the other by performing row operations. Equivalent augmented matrices come from systems of equations with the same set of solutions.

Gauss-Jordan Elimination:
This process applies elementary row operations to an augmented matrix in an organized way to produce an equivalent matrix whose solution is obvious.

Inverses:
The nxn matrix C is the inverse of the matrix D if CD is the Identity matrix.

Maple Information:

RESOURCES:

  1. Chapter 0, Strategic Mathematics
  2. MAPLE help system
  3. Activity2 workspace
  4. 40 minutes

PLAN:

  1. Choose roles if you have not already done so.
  2. Assess the team's understanding of the terms listed in the information section.
  3. Execute the model in the Activity2 MAPLE workspace by launching MAPLE and then opening Activity2 as Maple text. Have the recorder write down what happened at each step and any discoveries the team made as the model was executed.
  4. Use the model to answer the critical thinking questions.

MODEL:

Get into the MAPLE text Activity2 by launching Maple from the Start menu and execute each line. After executing the last A_INV:=multiply(EL,A_INV) command, repeat the execution of the three commands listed below, changing the definition of the elementary matrix EL until AUG is gradually transformed into the Identity matrix augmented by the following solution vector:


                         [4  -3  -2]T

		EL:= addrow(E,pivotrow,targetrow,-value);
		AUG:= multiply(EL,AUG);
		A_INV:= multiply(EL,A_INV);

Note that you have to use mulrow instead of addrow to make the pivot element 1.

          The problem to be solved in this model is:
                x + 2y - 3z = 4
               2x + 6y - 8z = 6
               3x + 4y - 4z = 8

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:

These will be provided in class.

SKILL EXERCISES:

  1. On a piece of paper set up the augmented matrix and perform Gauss-Jordan elimination to obtain a solution of the following system: Write down the elementary matrix for each step.
    
                                  4x + 4y + 2z = 8
                                   x + 2y      = 0
                                  3x -  y -  z = 7
    

    Repeat this process using MAPLE.

  2. Find and test the inverse of the coefficient matrix of the system in problem 1.

  3. If we have the following system of equations and form the matrix equation as follows:
    
            3x + 5y = 4         |3   5|  |x| = |4|    D =  | 7 -5|
            4x + 7y = 5         |4   7|  |y|   |5|         |-4  3|
    

    What should happen if we multiply both sides of the matrix equation on the left by the matrix D? Try it. Can you find the solution to this system immediately from what you have just done?

  4. If you wanted to solve the system
    
                         3x + 5y = 7
                         4x + 7y = 23
    

    Could you do it with one multiply operation? Try it by changing the commands you used for question 3.

  5. Check to see if the following matrices are inverses.
    
        1   1   0   1          1  95  -1 -29
        2   0  -5   8          0 -92   1  28
        0   1   3   2          0  31   0 -10
        0   0   3  31          0  -3   0   1
    

    Math 438 Activity 4 -- Revised 7/15/99