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| Question 1206698:  Find all values of k for which the given the augmented matrix corresponds to a consistent linear system
 K  1  -2
 4  -1  2
 Found 2 solutions by  MathLover1, math_tutor2020:
 Answer by MathLover1(20850)
      (Show Source): Answer by math_tutor2020(3817)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Definition: A consistent system has at least one solution.
 In contrast, an inconsistent system has no solutions.
 
 Let's consider a real number k such that
  and  These restrictions on k are to avoid division by zero errors in the matrix row reduction shown below.
 
 
 
 
| 1 | 1/k | -2/k | (1/k)*R1 --> R1 |  | 4 | -1 | 2 |  |  
 
 
| 1 | 1/k | -2/k |  |  | 0 | -(k+4)/k | (2k+8)/k | R2 - 4R1 --> R2 |  
 
 
| 1 | 1/k | -2/k |  |  | 0 | 1 | -2 | (-k/(k+4))*R2 --> R2 |  
 
 
| 1 | 0 | 0 | R1 - (1/k)*R2 --> R1 |  | 0 | 1 | -2 |  |  The matrix is now in reduced row echelon form (RREF)
 The solution is (x,y) = (0,-2) to prove this system is consistent.
 
 Now consider k = 0.
 kx+y = -2
 0*x+y = -2
 y = -2
 Then,
 4x-y = 2
 4x-(-2) = 2
 4x+2 = 2
 4x = 2-2
 4x = 0
 x = 0/4
 x = 0
 We arrive at (x,y) = (0,-2) again.
 The system is consistent when k = 0.
 
 Now consider k = -4.
 kx+y = -2
 -4x+y = -2
 We go from this system
 
  to this system
 
  Adding straight down yields 0x+0y = 0 or in short 0 = 0.
 This system is consistent when k = -4.
 Unlike the other cases, we get infinitely many solutions here. Each solution is of the form (x,y) = (x, 4x-2)
 Note x = 0 leads to y = -2 to show that (0,-2) is one of the infinitely many solutions here.
 
 
 Summary:
 
 We conclude that the system
  is consistent for any real number k. Meaning that this system will have at least one solution.
 If k = -4 then it has infinitely many solutions of the form (x,4x-2). Otherwise it will have exactly one solution which is (0,-2).
 
 Here is an interactive Desmos graph.
 https://www.desmos.com/calculator/mh8pmourgs
 Move the slider around for the k value to see the red line rotating around. The center of rotation is (0,-2). When k = -4 the two lines overlap.
 It is impossible to pick a value of k to make the system inconsistent.
 
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