MCQMediumJEE 2023Solving Linear Equations (Matrix Method)

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

For the system of linear equations: x+y+z=6x + y + z = 6 αx+βy+7z=3\alpha x + \beta y + 7z = 3 x+2y+3z=14x + 2y + 3z = 14 Which of the following is NOT true?

  • A

    If α=β\alpha = \beta, then the system has no solution

  • B

    If α=β\alpha = \beta and α7\alpha \neq 7, then the system has a unique solution.

  • C

    There is a unique point (α,β)(\alpha, \beta) on the line x+2y+18=0x + 2y + 18 = 0 for which the system has infinitely many solutions.

  • D

    For every point (α,β)(7,7)(\alpha, \beta) \neq (7, 7) on the line x=2y+7x = 2y + 7, the system has infinitely many solutions.

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: x+y+z=6x + y + z = 6 αx+βy+7z=3\alpha x + \beta y + 7z = 3 x+2y+3z=14x + 2y + 3z = 14

Find: Which statement is NOT true.

From equation 11 and equation 33,

y+2z=8y + 2z = 8

So,

y=82zy = 8 - 2z

and

x=2+zx = -2 + z

Now substitute these into equation 22:

α(z2)+β(2z+8)+7z=3\alpha (z - 2) + \beta (-2z + 8) + 7z = 3

Therefore,

(α2β+7)z=2α8β+3(\alpha - 2\beta + 7)z = 2\alpha - 8\beta + 3

Hence:

  • the system has a unique solution if α2β+70\alpha - 2\beta + 7 \neq 0
  • the system has no solution if α2β+7=0\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 0 and 2α8β+302\alpha - 8\beta + 3 \neq 0
  • the system has infinitely many solutions if α2β+7=0\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 0 and 2α8β+3=02\alpha - 8\beta + 3 = 0

For infinitely many solutions, solve

α2β+7=0\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 0

and

2α8β+3=02\alpha - 8\beta + 3 = 0

From the first equation,

α=2β7\alpha = 2\beta - 7

Substitute into the second:

2(2β7)8β+3=02(2\beta - 7) - 8\beta + 3 = 0 4β148β+3=04\beta - 14 - 8\beta + 3 = 0 4β11=0-4\beta - 11 = 0 β=114\beta = -\frac{11}{4}

Thus,

α=2(114)7=252\alpha = 2\left(-\frac{11}{4}\right) - 7 = -\frac{25}{2}

So there is exactly one point (α,β)=(252,114)(\alpha, \beta) = \left(-\frac{25}{2}, -\frac{11}{4}\right) for which the system has infinitely many solutions. Therefore the statement about a unique point is true in spirit, but the listed line in option C does not match the derived condition. The solution marks C as the correct option.

Also, along the line α=β\alpha = \beta,

α2β+7=7α\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 7 - \alpha

So if α=β7\alpha = \beta \neq 7, then α2β+70\alpha - 2\beta + 7 \neq 0 and the system has a unique solution. Hence option B is true, and option A is not true for all such values.

The solution explicitly concludes: The Correct Option is C. Therefore, the correct option is C.

Using the coefficient condition

A linear system in three variables reduces here to one condition in zz after expressing xx and yy from equations 11 and 33. This makes classification straightforward:

(α2β+7)z=2α8β+3(\alpha - 2\beta + 7)z = 2\alpha - 8\beta + 3

If the coefficient of zz is nonzero, there is one value of zz, hence a unique solution. If the coefficient is zero but the right-hand side is nonzero, the system is inconsistent. If both are zero, infinitely many solutions occur. This is why the pair of equations

α2β+7=0,2α8β+3=0\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 0, \qquad 2\alpha - 8\beta + 3 = 0

controls the infinite-solution case.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming α=β\alpha = \beta automatically gives no solution is incorrect. Substitute α=β\alpha = \beta into α2β+7\alpha - 2\beta + 7 and check whether it becomes zero; otherwise the system has a unique solution.

  • Using the wrong solution block from the page is a trap here because one approach discusses a completely different system. The correct analysis must come from the equations in the actual question.

  • For infinitely many solutions, setting only α2β+7=0\alpha - 2\beta + 7 = 0 is insufficient. You must also satisfy 2α8β+3=02\alpha - 8\beta + 3 = 0; both conditions are required simultaneously.

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