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VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE General & Further Mathematics => Topic started by: soNasty on October 31, 2013, 09:09:20 pm

Title: help.. matrices question!
Post by: soNasty on October 31, 2013, 09:09:20 pm
hey guys, i came across this question in one of my exams (kilbaha 2011) and im unsure as to why the answer is E rather than B... the two equations i used were
20x+8y=40900 and x+y=3200
where x is the number of adults and y is the number of children attending
it says in the answers that they converted the 20x+8y=40900 into 5x+2y=10225.. but why not leave it as it is?
thank you :P
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: sjayne on October 31, 2013, 09:36:08 pm
20x +8y=40900 can be simplified to 5x+2y=10225
therefore

|1  1| x|x|=|3200  |
|5  2|   |y|  |10225|
A       x  X = B
and A^-1 x B=X

Next you find the inverse of A and multiply it by B
1/2x1-5x1 |2  -1|x|3200  |
                 |-5  2|  |10225|
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: soNasty on October 31, 2013, 09:55:19 pm
20x +8y=40900 can be simplified to 5x+2y=10225
therefore

|1  1| x|x|=|3200  |
|5  2|   |y|  |10225|
A       x  X = B
and A^-1 x B=X

Next you find the inverse of A and multiply it by B
1/2x1-5x1 |2  -1|x|3200  |
                 |-5  2|  |10225|

yes but why would you even need to simplify it?
and why isnt B right!
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: plato on October 31, 2013, 09:56:53 pm
I agree with you.
There is no point in simplifying an equation if you are going to use matrices anyway. All this does is to introduce an unnecessary step where an error could be made.

I seems Kilbaha just wants you to jump another hurdle to make it seem more difficult.
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: sjayne on October 31, 2013, 10:00:42 pm
it is a bit odd :/
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: soNasty on October 31, 2013, 10:02:09 pm
very odd and pointless, stupid kilbaha.
Title: Re: help.. matrices question!
Post by: Patches on October 31, 2013, 10:11:48 pm
That's stupid, really can't see that coming up in a VCAA exam.