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Question 1109954:  solve the following equation by row reducing to echlon form 
3x+5y=9 
2x+3y=5 
 Found 2 solutions by  josgarithmetic, greenestamps: Answer by josgarithmetic(39630)      (Show Source):  Answer by greenestamps(13214)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
  
There are many different possible paths to take in reducing the matrix to row echelon form....
  
The original matrix A: 
 
  
First step: make A(1,1)=1. 
You could divide row 1 by 3; but that introduces fractions.  It is already easy enough, in the Gauss-Jordan elimination process, to make simple arithmetic errors, without introducing fractions.  So my choice for making A(1,1)=1 id to replace row 1 with (row 2 - row 1): 
 
  
Step 2: make A(2,1)=0. 
We have no choice here; we need to use the 1 in A(1,1) to make A(2,1) equal to 0.  Replace row 2 with (row 2 - 2*row 1): 
 
  
Step 3: make A(2,2)=1. 
This one is simple -- multiply row 2 by -1: 
 
  
Step 4: make A(1,2)=0. 
Again we have no choice but to use the 1 in A(2,2).  Replace row 1 with (row 1 - 2*row 2): 
 
  
The matrix is now in reduced row echelon form.
  
The solution to the system is x=-2, y=3. 
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