Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Determinants

Question:

The set of the all values of λ for which the system of linear equations:

$2x_1-2x_2 + x_3 = λx_1$

$2x_1-3x_2+2x_3 = λx_2$

$-x_1+2x_2 = λx_3$ has a non-trivial solution,

Options:

contains two elements

contains more than two elements

is an empty set

is a singleton set

Correct Answer:

contains two elements

Explanation:

The given system of equations is

$x_1 (2-λ)-2x_2+x_3=0$

$2x_1-(3+λ)x_2+2x_3=0$

$-x+2x_2-\lambda x_3=0$

Clearly, it is a homogenous system of equations and will have non-trivial solutions, if

$\begin{vmatrix}2-λ&-2&1\\2&-(3+λ)&2\\-1&2&-λ\end{vmatrix}=0$

$⇒λ^3+λ^2-5λ+3=0$

$⇒λ^2(λ-1)+2λ(λ-1)-3(λ-1)=0$

$⇒(λ-1) (λ^2+2λ-3)=0$

$⇒(λ-1) (λ-1) (λ+3)=0$

$⇒λ=1, 1, 3$.

Hence, there are two values of λ.