For a certain value of k, the system
x + y + 3z = 10
-4x + 8y + 5z = 7
kx + z = 3
has no solutions. What is this value of k?
This system of equations can be written as an augmented matrix and transformed into an echelon form or reduced row-echelon form using row operations. If the reduced row-echelon form has a row of zeros except for the last entry (which is non-zero), then the system has no solutions.
Here's the augmented matrix of the system:
[1 1 3 10]
[-4 8 5 7]
[k 0 1 3]
Using row operations, we can transform the matrix into row-echelon form:
[1 1 3 10]
[0 9 2 11]
[0 0 1-k 3-3k]
From the last row, we see that the system has no solutions if and only if 1-k is non-zero and 3-3k is non-zero. That is, if 3k ≠ 3 and k ≠ 1.
So the value of k that makes the system have no solutions is k = 1.