12x+a=131 what is the value of a if x=7

asked by guest
on Jan 21, 2025 at 10:35 am



You asked:

Given the following equations: \[\begin{aligned}12 x + a &= 131\\ x &= 7\end{aligned}\] Evaluate \(a\).

MathBot Answer:

The system of linear equations has exactly one solution.

\[a = 47\]


Begin by writing the augmented matrix of the system of equations. $$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 12 &\bigm |& 131\\0 & 1 &\bigm |& 7\end{bmatrix}$$

Then use a series of elementary row operations to convert the matrix into reduced-row echelon form. The three elementary row operations are:

  1. Swap the positions of any two rows.

  2. Multiply any row by a nonzero scalar.

  3. Multiply a row by a nonzero scalar and add it to any other row.


First, switch the rows in the matrix such that the row with the leftmost non-zero entry with the greatest magnitude is at the top.

$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 12 &\bigm |& 131\\0 & 1 &\bigm |& 7\end{bmatrix}$$

The leading term of row \(1\) is already \(1\) so this row does not need to be multiplied by a scalar.

$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 12 &\bigm |& 131\\0 & 1 &\bigm |& 7\end{bmatrix}$$

The leading term of row \(2\) is already \(1\) so this row does not need to be multiplied by a scalar.

$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 12 &\bigm |& 131\\0 & 1 &\bigm |& 7\end{bmatrix}$$

Multiply row \(2\) by scalar \(-12\) and add it to row \(1\).

$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 &\bigm |& 47\\0 & 1 &\bigm |& 7\end{bmatrix}$$

Once the matrix is in reduced-row echelon form, convert the matrix back into linear equations to find the solution. $$\begin{aligned}1 \cdot a+ 0 \cdot x = 47 \\ a = 47\end{aligned}$$$$\begin{aligned}0 \cdot a+ 1 \cdot x = 7 \\ x = 7\end{aligned}$$