maths.free › Linear Algebra › Row reduction

Row reduction

Gaussian elimination, rank and solving Ax = b.

Three row operations (swap, scale, add a multiple of one row to another) bring any matrix to reduced row-echelon form. The number of pivots is the rank; the reduced form of an augmented matrix reads out the solution of a linear system.

Worked example · rref [[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]]

Linear-Algebra · Row-Reduction

Rref [[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]]

\left[\begin{matrix}1 & 2 & 3\\4 & 5 & 6\\7 & 8 & 9\end{matrix}\right]

Step by step

  1. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 2 & 3\\4 & 5 & 6\\7 & 8 & 9\end{matrix}\right]

    Gauss-Jordan elimination.

  2. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 2 & 3\\0 & -3 & -6\\7 & 8 & 9\end{matrix}\right]

    R2 ← R2 − (4)·R1 to clear column 1.

  3. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 2 & 3\\0 & -3 & -6\\0 & -6 & -12\end{matrix}\right]

    R3 ← R3 − (7)·R1 to clear column 1.

  4. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 2 & 3\\0 & 1 & 2\\0 & -6 & -12\end{matrix}\right]

    R2 ← R2 / -3 to make the pivot 1.

  5. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 0 & -1\\0 & 1 & 2\\0 & -6 & -12\end{matrix}\right]

    R1 ← R1 − (2)·R2 to clear column 2.

  6. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 0 & -1\\0 & 1 & 2\\0 & 0 & 0\end{matrix}\right]

    R3 ← R3 − (-6)·R2 to clear column 2.

  7. \left[\begin{matrix}1 & 0 & -1\\0 & 1 & 2\\0 & 0 & 0\end{matrix}\right]

    Reduced row-echelon form.

Reveal the answer
\left[\begin{matrix}1 & 0 & -1\\0 & 1 & 2\\0 & 0 & 0\end{matrix}\right]

Now you Pick a problem, or type or draw your own. Every step, a picture, the answer hidden until you ask.

Keep your own working

A free account adds notes on every lesson, a record of what you have finished, your solved problems in one place, and a tutor you can ask about this page. The maths itself is open to everyone, signed in or not.

Sign Up Login

Symbols used here

Tap any symbol for the full definition, a picture, and what every letter in it means.

How to: Row reduction

  1. Gauss-Jordan elimination.
  2. R2 ← R2 − (4)·R1 to clear column 1.
  3. R3 ← R3 − (7)·R1 to clear column 1.
  4. R2 ← R2 / -3 to make the pivot 1.
  5. R1 ← R1 − (2)·R2 to clear column 2.
  6. R3 ← R3 − (-6)·R2 to clear column 2.
  7. Reduced row-echelon form.

Questions people ask

What does a determinant mean geometrically?

It is the factor by which the matrix scales area (2×2) or volume (3×3), with a negative sign if orientation flips. Zero means the matrix flattens space and cannot be undone.

What is an eigenvector?

A direction the matrix does not turn: it only stretches it by the eigenvalue. Along eigenvectors a complicated matrix acts like multiplication by a number.

Why is matrix multiplication not commutative?

Because a matrix is a transformation and AB means "do B, then A". Rotating then reflecting is not the same as reflecting then rotating.

More in Linear Algebra

DeterminantsMatrix inverseEigenvalues and eigenvectorsMatrix multiplicationVector spaces, span and linear independenceOrthogonality, projections and least squaresDiagonalisation and matrix powersLinear transformations and change of basis