13.16: Linear Algebraic Equations

A linear algebraic equation is an equation where the unknowns appear only to the first power. A general linear equation looks like this:

\(a1*x1 + a2*x2 + ... + an*xn = b\)

The values a1, a2, ..., an are known coefficients. The value b is a known constant. The values x1, x2, ..., xn are the unknowns we want to find.

A system of linear equations is a set of these equations. For example:

\(4*x1 - 2*x2 + x3 = 7\)

\(x1 + x2 + 5*x3 = 10\)

\(-2*x1 + 3*x2 - x3 = 2\)

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