Summary of Systems of
Linear Equations | Tutorial on Row
Operations | Excel Tutorials for
Systems of Linear Equations
Use of this utility is quite intuitive. Just enter the matrix entries in the
blank cells of the spreadsheet below in fraction or decimal form (use the tab
key to move from one cell to the next) and tell the program what to do. You can
use as many cells as you like -- just leave unused cells blank. The very top row
contains lables for the columns; change them to anything you like.
- Decimal mode displays all the entries as decimals, rounded to the number
of significant digits you have selected (up to 13, depending on your processor
and browser).
- Fraction mode converts all decimals to fractions and displays all the
tableaus (and solutions) as fractions.
- Integer Mode eliminates decimals and fractions (using the method in Finite Mathematics and Finite Mathematics and Applied
Calculus) and displays the solution as fractions. It also reduces each
row to lowest terms if you use "Pivot" or "Row Reduce".
- "Save This" saves the current matrix and mode, and "Revert to Saved"
restores the saved matrix.
- Row Operations You can use the "Row Operation" fields to either
multiply a row by a constant, or replace the first-named row by a combination
with the second. If you are in Integer mode and perform an operation that
results in fractions, the utility will automatically switch to Fraction mode.
(Press "Undo" to undo such an operation and mode change.)
- "Row Reduce" reduces the matrix to "reduced row-echelon form."
Disclaimer: Browsers sometimes crash when running
computation-intensive Javascript code. Make sure your important work is saved
before running this utility.
Last Updated: Februrary, 2001
Copyright © 1999
Stefan Waner and Steven R. Costenoble