Question
If three numbers are added, their sum is $2.$ If two times the second number is subtracted from the sum of first and third numbers we get $8$ and if three times the first number is added to the sum of second and third numbers we get $4.$ Find the numbers using matrices.

Answer

Let the three numbers $\text{x , y , z.}$
From given condition, we have
$x + y + z = 2 .......(1)$
$x + z - 2y = 8$
$x - 2y + z = 8 ......(2)$
And
$3x + y + z = 4 .....(3)$
Given all equation can be written in matrix form as ,
$\left[\begin{array}{ccc}1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & -2 & 1 \\ 3 & 1 & 1\end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{l}x \\ y \\ z\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{l}2 \\ 8 \\ 4\end{array}\right]$
Consider , $AX = B$
On multiplying $A^{-1}$ both sides , we get
$X = A^{-1} . B ......(4)$
Now
$| A |=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & -3 & 0 \\ 0 & -2 & -2\end{array}\right|\left[\begin{array}{l}x \\ y \\ z\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 6 \\ -2\end{array}\right]$
$\left|\begin{array}{ccc}x+ & y+ & z \\ 0- & 3 y & +0 \\ 0 & -2 & -2\end{array}\right|=\left[\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 6 \\ -2\end{array}\right]$
By equality of matrices,
$x + y + z = 2 ……(1)$
$-3y = 6 ……(2)$
$– 2y – 2z = -2 ……..(3)$
From $(2), y = -2$
Substituting $y = -2$ in $(3),$ we get,
$-2(-2) – 2z$
$= -2$
$\therefore -2z = -6$
$\therefore z = 3$
Substituting $y = -2, z = 3$ in $(1),$ we get,
$x – 2 + 3$
$= 2$
$\therefore x = 1$
Hence, the required numbers are $1, -2$ and $3.$

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