document.write( "Question 1197204: a grain dealer sold to one customer 9th bushels of wheat 3 of corn and 5 of rye for $40.90 to another 3 of wheat 5 of corn and 9 of rye for $47.30 and to a third 5 of wheat 9 of corn and 3 of rye for $46.10 what was the price per bushel of corn \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #830373 by math_tutor2020(3817)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "Answer: $3.10 per bushel for the price of corn\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Explanation:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Given information
\n" ); document.write( "9 bushels of wheat 3 of corn and 5 of rye for $40.90
\n" ); document.write( "3 bushels of wheat 5 of corn and 9 of rye for $47.30
\n" ); document.write( "5 bushels of wheat 9 of corn and 3 of rye for $46.10\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = price for 1 bushel of wheat
\n" ); document.write( "y = price for 1 bushel of corn
\n" ); document.write( "z = price for 1 bushel of rye\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The three facts in the given information allow us to form these three equations in this order
\n" ); document.write( "9x+3y+5z = 40.90
\n" ); document.write( "3x+5y+9z = 47.30
\n" ); document.write( "5x+9y+3z = 46.10\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The matrix form looks like this
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28matrix%283%2C4%2C9%2C3%2C5%2C40.90%2C3%2C5%2C9%2C47.30%2C5%2C9%2C3%2C46.10%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "Each coefficient makes up the 3x3 matrix on the left hand side; the right hand side values are along the far right column. Ultimately we have a 3x4 matrix.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'll represent this matrix as a table having 3 rows and 4 columns like this\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
93540.9
35947.3
59346.1
We'll do matrix operations to get this matrix into row echelon form (abbreviated as REF).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's swap row1 (denoted R1) with row3 (aka R3)
\n" ); document.write( "The notation is R1 <--> R3\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
59346.1R1 <--> R3
35947.3
93540.9

\n" ); document.write( "To get R1 to have 1 as the first item, we'll multiply everything by 1/5\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22(1/5)*R1 --> R1
35947.3
93540.9
The goal is to zero out everything below this '1' in the top left corner.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Compute the operation R2 - 3*R1 which says
\n" ); document.write( "\"triple an item in R1, then subtract from R2\". We subtract straight down. This is why I think the grid lines or boxes from a table are handy to keep things lined up. Use of scratch paper is recommended. A more stronger recommendation is to use a spreadsheet if possible. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The result of R2-3*R1 replaces R2. This is what the notation R2-3R1 --> R2 is referring to.\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22
00.4-7.2-19.64R2 - 3*R1 --> R2
93540.9
Now compute R3 - 9*R1 --> R3\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Multiply 9 times an item in R1, subtract from R3. The result replaces the value in R3\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22
00.4-7.2-19.64
0-13.2-0.4-42.08R3 - 9*R1 --> R3
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\n" ); document.write( "The first nonzero value in R2 is the 0.4 in the second entry.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Multiply this and all of R2 by 1/0.4 so that the first nonzero entry turns into a 1. This is the pivot for this row.\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22
01-18-49.1(1/0.4)*R2 --> R2
0-13.2-0.4-42.08
\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now compute R3 + 13.2*R2 to have it replace R3\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22
01-18-49.1
00-238-690.2R3 + 13.2*R2 --> R3
\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The last step to get it to REF is to multiply every item in R3 by (-1/238)\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
11.80.69.22
01-18-49.1
0012.9(-1/238)*R3 --> R3
The matrix is now in row echelon form\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We have gone from this augmented matrix
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28matrix%283%2C4%2C9%2C3%2C5%2C40.90%2C3%2C5%2C9%2C47.30%2C5%2C9%2C3%2C46.10%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "to this matrix in row echelon form
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28matrix%283%2C4%2C1%2C1.8%2C0.6%2C9.22%2C0%2C1%2C-18%2C-49.1%2C0%2C0%2C1%2C2.9%29%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( "The bottom row has
\n" ); document.write( "0, 0, 1, 2.90
\n" ); document.write( "which translates back to this equation
\n" ); document.write( "0x + 0y + 1z = 2.90
\n" ); document.write( "or in short
\n" ); document.write( "z = 2.90\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The price of one bushel of rye is $2.90
\n" ); document.write( "In other words, rye costs $2.90 per bushel.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Then use back substitution to find y
\n" ); document.write( "The second row has
\n" ); document.write( "0, 1, -18, -49.1
\n" ); document.write( "which gives this equation
\n" ); document.write( "0x+1y-18z = -49.1
\n" ); document.write( "aka
\n" ); document.write( "y - 18z = -49.1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We'll use the recently found z value to find y
\n" ); document.write( "y - 18z = -49.1
\n" ); document.write( "y - 18(2.90) = -49.1
\n" ); document.write( "y - 52.2 = -49.1
\n" ); document.write( "y = -49.1 + 52.2
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3.10
\n" ); document.write( "The price of a bushel of corn is $3.10\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Use further back substitution to find x
\n" ); document.write( "The first row is
\n" ); document.write( "1, 1.8, 0.6, 9.22
\n" ); document.write( "giving us
\n" ); document.write( "1x + 1.8y + 0.6z = 9.22\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Plug in y = 3.10 and z = 2.90 and solve for x.
\n" ); document.write( "1x + 1.8y + 0.6z = 9.22
\n" ); document.write( "1x + 1.8*3.10 + 0.6*2.90 = 9.22
\n" ); document.write( "1x + 5.58 + 1.74 = 9.22
\n" ); document.write( "x + 7.32 = 9.22
\n" ); document.write( "x = 9.22 - 7.32
\n" ); document.write( "x = 1.90
\n" ); document.write( "The price of wheat is $1.90 per bushel\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Summary:
\n" ); document.write( "x = 1.90
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3.10
\n" ); document.write( "z = 2.90
\n" ); document.write( "which represents the per bushel cost of wheat, corn, and rye in that order.
\n" ); document.write( "All costs are in dollars.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You can use computer software or a graphing calculator to verify the answers.
\n" ); document.write( "The linear algebra toolkit is a very valuable resource for situations like this. Let me know if you have any questions using it.
\n" ); document.write( "Tools like WolframAlpha and GeoGebra are useful as well.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Or you can plug each x,y,z value into the original equations mentioned.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If we plugged x = 1.90, y = 3.10, and z = 2.90 into the first equation, then,
\n" ); document.write( "9x+3y+5z = 40.90
\n" ); document.write( "9*1.90+3*3.10+5*2.90 = 40.90
\n" ); document.write( "17.10+9.30+14.50 = 40.90
\n" ); document.write( "40.90 = 40.90
\n" ); document.write( "We get the same thing on both sides, so this is a true equation.
\n" ); document.write( "This confirms those x,y,z values work for the first equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'll let you check the other equations. You should get the same number on both sides after replacing those x,y,z values with the numbers mentioned.
\n" ); document.write( "Once you discover the three equations are true for those x,y,z values, you will have fully confirmed the solution.
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