Question

define Inconsistent vs Consistent system of equation

Answers

GPT-4o mini
In the context of linear equations, the terms "consistent" and "inconsistent" refer to the nature of the solutions to a system of equations. Here’s a breakdown of each term:

### Consistent System of Equations
A system of equations is called **consistent** if there is at least one solution. This could mean:

1. **Unique Solution:** The system has exactly one solution. This occurs when the equations represent lines (or planes, in higher dimensions) that intersect at a single point.

2. **Infinitely Many Solutions:** The system has an infinite number of solutions. This occurs when the equations represent the same line (or plane) or are dependent, meaning one equation can be expressed as a multiple of another.

### Inconsistent System of Equations
A system of equations is called **inconsistent** if there are no solutions. This occurs when the equations represent lines (or planes) that do not intersect at any point. For example, in two dimensions, this situation arises when you have two parallel lines; they never meet, and thus there is no point that satisfies both equations.

### Summary
- **Consistent:** At least one solution (either unique or infinitely many).
- **Inconsistent:** No solutions at all.

Understanding whether a system of equations is consistent or inconsistent is crucial in linear algebra, optimization problems, and many applied mathematics fields.
Parallel lines
GPT-4o mini
Parallel lines are two or more lines that never intersect or meet, no matter how far they are extended in either direction. Here are some important characteristics and properties of parallel lines:

### Characteristics of Parallel Lines:

1. **Same Slope:** In a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, parallel lines have the same slope. If two lines are represented by the equations \(y = mx + b_1\) and \(y = mx + b_2\), both lines have the same slope \(m\), but different y-intercepts \(b_1\) and \(b_2\).

2. **Different Y-Intercepts:** While they have the same slope, parallel lines will not overlap unless they are, in fact, identical. Therefore, they will have different y-intercepts.

3. **Converse of the Angle Properties:** If a transversal line intersects two lines and the corresponding angles (or alternate interior angles) are equal, then the two lines are parallel.

### In the Context of Systems of Equations:

When considering systems of linear equations, if the equations represent parallel lines, the system is **inconsistent** because there is no point that lies on both lines; hence, there are no solutions. For example:
- The equations \(y = 2x + 1\) and \(y = 2x - 3\) represent two parallel lines since they have the same slope of 2 but different y-intercepts (1 and -3).

### Visual Representation:
In a simple graph, parallel lines would appear as two straight lines that run alongside each other, maintaining the same distance apart without ever crossing.

### Summary
Parallel lines are a fundamental concept in geometry and algebra, characterized by having the same slope, different intercepts, and being a crucial example in the discussion of consistent versus inconsistent systems of equations.
Dependent system of equations
GPT-4o mini
A **dependent system of equations** is a type of system in which there are infinitely many solutions because the equations are not independent; rather, one equation can be expressed as a linear combination of the others. In other words, the equations represent the same line (in two dimensions), plane (in three dimensions), or hyperplane in higher dimensions.

### Characteristics of a Dependent System:

1. **Infinite Solutions:** Since the equations describe the same geometric object, any solution that satisfies one of the equations will satisfy the others as well. Therefore, there are infinitely many solutions.

2. **Same Slope and Intercept (in 2D):** For two linear equations in two dimensions, if you can manipulate one equation to arrive at the other, they will have the same slope and the same y-intercept. For example:
- Given the equations:
- \(2x + 3y = 6\)
- \(4x + 6y = 12\)
- The second equation can be obtained by multiplying the first equation by 2, indicating that they represent the same line.

3. **Graphical Representation:** When plotted on a coordinate plane, the equations will overlap completely, appearing as a single line.

4. **Rank Condition:** In terms of linear algebra, if the rank of the coefficient matrix is equal to the rank of the augmented matrix and less than the number of variables, the system is said to be dependent.

### Example of Dependent Equations:
Consider the following pair of equations:

1. \(y = 1/2x + 3\)
2. \(2y = x + 6\)

If you simplify the second equation by dividing everything by 2, you will find:

\[ y = \frac{1}{2}x + 3 \]

Both equations are equivalent, suggesting that they represent the same line and therefore have infinitely many solutions.

### Summary
A dependent system of equations implies that the equations are essentially the same but expressed in different forms, leading to an infinite number of solutions. This contrasts with inconsistent systems (no solutions) and independent systems (exactly one solution). Understanding dependent systems is crucial in various fields such as linear algebra, economics, engineering, and more.
Vocabulary Terms - Define/Illustrate

Substitution

GPT-4o mini
### Substitution

**Definition:**
Substitution is a mathematical method used to solve equations or systems of equations by replacing a variable with an equivalent expression. It is most commonly employed in algebra for solving linear equations and systems of linear equations.

### How it Works:

1. **Identify a Variable:** Choose one of the equations in the system and solve for one variable in terms of the other(s).

2. **Substitute:** Replace that variable in the other equation(s) with the expression you derived.

3. **Solve the Resulting Equation:** After substituting, you'll have an equation with one variable, which can be solved easily.

4. **Back Substitute:** If you are solving a system, once you find the value for one variable, substitute it back into one of the original equations to find the value of the other variable(s).

### Example of Substitution:

#### Step 1: Given the System of Equations
Consider the following system:

1. \(y = 2x + 3\) (Equation 1)
2. \(3x + 4y = 18\) (Equation 2)

#### Step 2: Substitute \(y\) from Equation 1 into Equation 2
We can substitute the expression for \(y\) from Equation 1 into Equation 2.

\[
3x + 4(2x + 3) = 18
\]

#### Step 3: Solve for \(x\)
Now simplify and solve the equation:

\[
3x + 8x + 12 = 18
\]
\[
11x + 12 = 18
\]
\[
11x = 6
\]
\[
x = \frac{6}{11}
\]

#### Step 4: Back Substitute to Find \(y\)
Now, substitute \(x\) back into Equation 1 to find \(y\):

\[
y = 2\left(\frac{6}{11}\right) + 3
\]
\[
y = \frac{12}{11} + \frac{33}{11} = \frac{45}{11}
\]

### Conclusion:
The solution to the system of equations is \(x = \frac{6}{11}\) and \(y = \frac{45}{11}\).

### Illustration:
Substitution can be visualized geometrically for a system of linear equations. Each line represented by an equation can be plotted on a graph. The point where the lines intersect represents the solution of the system, and substitution helps to find that intersection by eliminating variables systematically.

### Summary
Substitution is a powerful and straightforward algebraic technique for solving equations and systems of equations, making it easier to work with variables by systematically replacing them with expressions that reflect their relationships.