Systems of Linear Equations – Cramer’s Rule Essay

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Introduction

Gabriel Cramer (1704-1752) is a familiar name among mathematicians. Cramer was well known for his passion for mathematics such that at his tender age when he was 18 years “he shared a position with Calandrini as the chair in the mathematics department” (Robertson 3). At this stage, Cramer took advantage of his position to travel the world, visiting great mathematicians including Euler, Johann, and Daniel Bernoulli among others. Apart from his academic prowess, he excelled as an editor. One of his popular publications was the “Introduction à l’analyse des lignes courbes algébraique” (Robertson 4). The contents of this book are founded on Newton’s works concerning cubic curves. As such, after introducing Newton’s works, he proceeds to simplify the understanding of these curves in the subsequent chapter. In chapter three, Cramer classifies curves concerning shapes, and it is here that he introduces his famous ‘Cramer’s Rule.’ Here, Cramer applies several arbitrary factors in an equation of the order n, to test his theory. To this end, Cramer “deduces that an equation of degree n can be made to pass through n points” (Robertson 5). To assert his point, Cramer assumes a figure, 5, for n and demonstrates how the equation can be made to cross 5 points. In his solution, Cramer formulates five linear equations and finds a solution using his theory. In this paper, the primary objective is to demonstrate Cramer’s Rule in finding solutions to the two systems given below:

System 1

FormulaFormulaFormulaFormula

System 2

FormulaFormulaFormulaFormula

Method

According to Cramer, the first step is to transform the linear equations into matrix form.

For system 1, the linear equations take the matrix,

FormulaFormula = Formula

As such, the values for a, b, c and d can be obtained using Cramer’s Rule as per the equations below where the determinant is denoted by the letter D.

Formula

But, D for this matrix is obtained by reducing it from a 4-by-4 to a 2-by-2 matrix as shown below.

Formula

Similarly, the value for Da is obtained from the matrix,

Formula

Where the first column is replaced by the answer matrix, Formula , in equation (1) above.

Therefore,

Da= 33

Thus, a = 1

To obtain Db, the second column is replaced by Formula This gives;

Formula

Therefore,

Db= 33

Thus, b= 1

To obtain Db, the third column is replaced by Formula. This gives;

Formula

Therefore,

Dc= 33

Thus, c = 1

To obtain Db, the fourth column is replaced by Formula. This gives;

Formula

Therefore,

Dd= -33

Thus, d = -1

System 2 follows a similar trend. The matrix formation of the linear equations is represented as:

Formula

Similarly, the values of p, q, r, and s are obtained using equations 2 above.

Therefore, D = 83

On the other hand, to obtain Dp column 1 is replaced with a matrix Formula to obtain a matrix,

Formula

Thus, Dp= 166 and,

And, p = 166/83 = 2

To obtain Dq, column 2 is replaced with matrix Formula to obtain a matrix,

Formula

Thus, Dq= -166 and,

And, q = -166/83 = -2

To obtain Dr, column 3 is replaced with matrix Formula to obtain a matrix,

Formula

Thus, Dr= 83

And, r = 83/83 =1

To obtain Ds, column 4 is replaced with matrix Formula to obtain a matrix,

Formula

Thus, Ds=-83

And, s= -83/83 = -1

Conclusion

For system 1, the values for a, b, c, and d are 1, 1, 1, and -1 respectively. On the other hand, for system 2, the values for p, q, r, and s are 2, -2, 1, and -1 respectively. When these values are replaced in the original equations, they confirm Cramer’s Rule as authentic.

Works Cited

Robertson, Fredrick. Mathematicians born in the same country. Logan: Utah State UP, 2015. Print.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Systems of Linear Equations - Cramer’s Rule." April 14, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/systems-of-linear-equations-cramers-rule/.

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