MCQMediumJEE 2023Solving Linear Equations (Matrix Method)

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

Let the system of linear equations

x+y+kz=2x + y + kz = 2

2x+3yz=12x + 3y - z = 1

3x+4y+2z=k3x + 4y + 2z = k

have infinitely many solutions. Then the system

(k+1)x+(2k1)y=7(k+1)x + (2k-1)y = 7

(2k+1)x+(k+5)y=10(2k+1)x + (k+5)y = 10

has:

  • A

    infinitely many solutions

  • B

    unique solution satisfying xy=1x - y = 1

  • C

    no solution

  • D

    unique solution satisfying x+y=1x + y = 1

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The first system is

x+y+kz=22x+3yz=13x+4y+2z=k\begin{aligned} x + y + kz &= 2 \\ 2x + 3y - z &= 1 \\ 3x + 4y + 2z &= k \end{aligned}

and it has infinitely many solutions.

The second system is

(k+1)x+(2k1)y=7(2k+1)x+(k+5)y=10\begin{aligned} (k+1)x + (2k-1)y &= 7 \\ (2k+1)x + (k+5)y &= 10 \end{aligned}

Find: Which option is correct for the second system.

For the first system to have infinitely many solutions, the determinant of the coefficient matrix must be zero.

11k231342=0\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & k \\ 2 & 3 & -1 \\ 3 & 4 & 2 \end{vmatrix} = 0

Expanding along the first row,

Det(A)=1314212132+k2334\text{Det}(A)=1\begin{vmatrix}3 & -1\\4 & 2\end{vmatrix}-1\begin{vmatrix}2 & -1\\3 & 2\end{vmatrix}+k\begin{vmatrix}2 & 3\\3 & 4\end{vmatrix}

Now,

3142=6+4=10,2132=4+3=7,2334=89=1\begin{vmatrix}3 & -1\\4 & 2\end{vmatrix}=6+4=10, \qquad \begin{vmatrix}2 & -1\\3 & 2\end{vmatrix}=4+3=7, \qquad \begin{vmatrix}2 & 3\\3 & 4\end{vmatrix}=8-9=-1

Therefore,

Det(A)=107k=3k\text{Det}(A)=10-7-k=3-k

So,

3k=0    k=33-k=0 \implies k=3

Substituting k=3k=3 in the second system,

4x+5y=74x+5y=7

and

7x+8y=107x+8y=10

Subtracting the first equation from the second,

(7x+8y)(4x+5y)=107(7x+8y)-(4x+5y)=10-7

which gives

3x+3y=3    x+y=13x+3y=3 \implies x+y=1

Also, the coefficient determinant of the second system is

4578=3235=30\begin{vmatrix}4 & 5\\7 & 8\end{vmatrix}=32-35=-3 \ne 0

so the system has a unique solution.

Therefore, the second system has a unique solution satisfying x+y=1x+y=1. The correct option is D.

Direct elimination after finding $$k$$

Given: The first system has infinitely many solutions.

Find: The nature of the second system.

From the first system,

11k231342=0\begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & k \\ 2 & 3 & -1 \\ 3 & 4 & 2 \end{vmatrix}=0

This gives

3k=0    k=33-k=0 \implies k=3

Now the second system becomes

4x+5y=74x+5y=7 7x+8y=107x+8y=10

Subtracting the first equation from the second immediately gives

3x+3y=33x+3y=3

Hence,

x+y=1x+y=1

Since the two equations are not proportional, the solution is unique.

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Setting only det(A)=0\det(A)=0 and stopping there is incomplete. For infinitely many solutions, students often forget that the system condition is being used only to find kk first; after that, the second system must still be analyzed separately.

  • Using the wrong determinant expansion signs in the first row gives an incorrect value of kk. The cofactor signs are +,,++,-,+, so the middle minor must be subtracted.

  • After obtaining x+y=1x+y=1, concluding that the second system has infinitely many solutions is incorrect. One linear relation from subtraction does not imply dependent equations; check that the coefficient determinant of the second system is non-zero to confirm uniqueness.

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