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3 votes
For the following system.

kx + y + z = 1
x + ky + z = 1
x+ y + kz = 1
Determine for what values of k the system has:
a) No solutions
b) One solution
c) A lot of solutions ...?

User Tenwest
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1 Answer

1 vote
This problem can be converted into a linear algebra problem. The condition is that if the derminant below is not zero, then the system has one solution.
| k 1 1 |
| 1 k 1 | = k^3 - 3k + 2 = 0
| 1 1 k |


Solving for the roots, k = -2, and k = 1.

When k = 1, the three equations are the same so there are infinite solutions.

When k = -2, there are no solutions.

When k /= -2 and k /= 1, there is one solution.
User Dave Lawrence
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