X-Ray Imaging, Mathematics, and Puzzles

Authors:
Tamar Avineri, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham NC
Emily Berkeley, Panther Creek High School, Cary, NC
Ashley Miller, North Rowan High School, Spencer, NC

Advisors: Eric Hallman, Rachel Minster, Arvind K. Saibaba ([email protected])North Carolina

State University

Abstract: In this module, students will learn about x-ray imaging and how mathematics plays a
role in generating the images that we obtain using x-ray devices. First, students will be given
lessons on matrix operations including adding, multiplying, and Gaussian Elimination. Students
will participate in several games/puzzles such as Kakuro and Nonogram. The strategy used in
these games parallel the mathematical techniques used in generating images from x-ray devices.
The students will read an article that ties x-ray imaging to mathematics and participate in a
discussion.

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation
through the grant DMS-1845406.
 1

Implementation Notes 2
Lesson 1: Introduction to Matrices and Matrix Operations 4
Lesson Plan 4
Guided Notes – Teacher Version 7
Lesson 2: Matrix Multiplication 12
Lesson Plan 12
Guided Notes Lesson 2 – Teacher Version 14
Lesson 3: Solving Matrix Equations Using Gaussian Elimination 20
Lesson Plan 20
Guided Notes - Teacher Version 22
Lesson 4: Exploring X-Ray Imaging through Puzzles 30
Lesson Plan 30
Games KEY 31
Article 34
Lesson 4: X-Ray Notes 35
Guess My Square 39
Lesson 5: Solving ill-posed puzzles 40
Warm Up-Key 41
Guided Notes Key 42
Worksheet Key 49
Exit Ticket 54
Appendices Lesson Materials – Student Versions 56
Lesson 1 - Guided Notes - Student Version 56
Lesson 2 - Guided Notes – Student Version 61
Lesson 3 - Guided Notes - Student Version 68
Lesson 4 - Games – Student Version 78
Lesson 5-Warm Up-Student Version 82
Lesson 5 – Guided Notes Student Version 84
Lesson 5-Worksheet Student Version 91
 2

Implementation Notes

❖ Length of module:
➢ In total, this unit is designed to take approximately 5 days of 90-minute lessons,
or 10 days of 45-minute lessons.
➢ Each of the lessons is accompanied by an estimate of the length of time it is
designed to take in class. If the estimate is longer than you are able to devote in
class, feel free to select portions for students to complete outside of class.

❖ Relevant courses: This module is designed to be self-contained, as the first 3 lessons

provide foundational knowledge in the linear algebra skills that students will need for the
subsequent lessons. The materials are appropriate for any NC Math 4, Pre-Calculus, or
Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science courses. This could also serve as an
interesting study following the AP exam for students in AP Calculus AB or BC.

❖ Mathematical practices/student learning outcomes: In addition to the standards for

mathematical practices, this module addresses a number of standards covered in NC
Math 4, Pre-Calculus and Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science.
➢ Mathematical practices:
■ Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
■ Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
■ Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
■ Model with mathematics.
■ Use appropriate tools strategically.
■ Attend to precision.
■ Look for and make use of structure.
■ Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
■ Use strategies and procedures flexibly.
■ Reflect on mistakes and misconceptions.
➢ NC Math 4: NC.M4.N.2.1 Execute procedures of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and scalar multiplication on matrices; NC.M4.N.2.2 Execute
procedures of addition, subtraction, and scalar multiplication on vectors.
➢ Precalculus: PC.N.2.1 Execute the sum and difference algorithms to combine
matrices of appropriate dimensions; PC.N.2.2 Execute associative and distributive
properties to matrices; PC.N.2.3 Execute commutative property to add matrices;
PC.N.2.4 Execute properties of matrices to multiply a matrix by a scalar;
PC.N.2.5 Execute the multiplication algorithm with matrices.
➢ Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science: DCS.N.1.1 Implement procedures
of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and scalar multiplication on matrices;
DCS.N.1.2 Implement procedures of addition, subtraction, and scalar
 3

multiplication on vectors; DCS.N.2.1 Organize data into matrices to solve

problems; DCS.N.2.2 Interpret solutions found using matrix operations in context;
DCS.N.2.3 Represent a system of equations as a matrix equation

❖ Assessments:
➢ Feel free to select portions of the guided notes to serve as out-of-class activities.
➢ Any problem set contained within guided notes could be given as homework
assignments.
➢ The teacher could choose to give students a standard test or quiz on the skills that
have been learned.

❖ Online delivery suggestions:

➢ For asynchronous online delivery, create instructional videos to take students
through the guided notes.
➢ For synchronous online delivery, display the guided notes on your screen and take
students through the activities while you annotate on your screen (or writing on
paper and using a document camera).
➢ Share all prepared documents through a learning management system so that
students would have access to them at home

❖ Student Versions: Please note that the student versions are located at the end of this
document in the Appendix.
 4

Lesson 1: Introduction to Matrices and Matrix Operations

Lesson Plan

Standard Topic/Day: Introduction to Matrices, Matrix

NC.M4.N.2.1 Execute procedures of addition, Addition/Subtraction, and Scalar Multiplication
subtraction, multiplication, and scalar Content Objective: Elementary Matrix Operations
multiplication on matrices Vocabulary: matrix; row; column; dimension; square;
transpose
PC.N.2.1 Execute the sum and difference Materials Needed: guided notes and practice problems
algorithms to combine matrices of appropriate
dimensions; PC.N.2.2 Execute associative and
distributive properties to matrices; PC.N.2.3
Execute commutative property to add matrices; (~60 minutes)
PC.N.2.4 Execute properties of matrices to
multiply a matrix by a scalar;

DCS.N.1.1 Implement procedures of addition,

subtraction, multiplication and scalar
multiplication on matrices.

Time Student Does Teacher Does

 5

Warm Up ~15 min Students read the opening problem Teacher hands out a sheet of paper with the
Elicit/Engage
(e.g., Textbook Problem or other opening problem written on it and/or
Build relevance
context of interest) from a handout projects it on the screen. Teacher opens
through a
and/or projected on a screen. with the question, “How might we organize
problem
this information in a way that allows us to
Try to find out In groups of 2-3, students talk briefly
answer questions about the university’s
what your about how they would answer the
inventory?”
students already question from the teacher. (~5
know minutes) The teacher brings back
Get them After students discuss, the teacher solicits
students to share out with the class. (~3
interested students’ responses.
minutes)
Students are provided guided notes to If students do not suggest a matrix, the
document new terms (e.g., matrix, teacher will introduce the name and ask
dimension, row, column, etc.) They students if they are familiar with the term.
will complete the notes through the If not, the teacher will define it through one
discussion conducted by the teacher. of the matrices used to organize the
(~5 minutes) information in the problem.

Explore I Students complete the second matrix Teacher circulates the room to
Connectivity to
build ~15 min from the problem in their groups. (~5 observe/monitor students’ work.
understanding of min)
concepts
Allow for Teacher then poses question: “How could
collaboration Students work in groups of 2-3 to we use these matrices to determine the total
consider answer teacher’s question. (~5 minutes) inventory of books at the university?”
heterogeneous
groups
Move Once students have some time to answer
deliberately
from concrete to question, teacher returns to full class
abstract discussion to ask how we could define
Apply
scaffolding & matrix addition.
personalization

Explain I ~5 min Students offer their ideas on how to Teacher conducts discussion on matrix
Personalize/
Differentiate as define matrix addition (and addition and subtraction.
needed subtraction).
Adjust along Teacher poses questions: “Is matrix
teacher/student
centered Students engage in class discussion on addition commutative? Is it associative? Is
continuum teachers’ questions. matrix subtraction commutative? Is it
Provide
 6

vocabulary associative? Why/why not?”

Clarify
understandings
Explore II Students work in groups of 2-3 to Teacher then poses question: “How could
Connectivity to
build ~5 min answer teacher’s question. (~5 minutes) we use these matrices to determine the
understanding of inventory of books at the university if the
concepts
Allow for librarian would like to double the
collaboration inventory?”
consider
heterogeneous
groups Once students have some time to answer
Move question, teacher returns to full class
deliberately
from concrete to discussion to ask how we could define
abstract scalar multiplication.
Apply
scaffolding &
personalization
Explain II ~5 min Students offer their ideas on how to Teacher conducts discussion on scalar
Personalize/
Differentiate as define scalar multiplication. multiplication.
needed
Clarify
understandings
Extend ~15 min Students complete class problem set in Teacher circulates the room and
Apply
knowledge to groups of 2-3 to apply their new observes/monitors students’ work.
new scenarios knowledge.
Continue to
personalize as
needed
Consider
grouping
homogeneously
Evaluate N/A Students will complete guided notes Teacher will review students’ work as they
Formative
Assessment and a problem set for practice. circulate room and monitor progress,
How will you Students turn in their solutions to the engaging students who may be having
know if students
understand last problem in the problem set as an difficulty in discussion to probe their
throughout the exit ticket (e.g., Stereo Problem) thinking.
lesson?
 7

Guided Notes – Teacher Version

Matrix Addition, Subtraction and Scalar Multiplication

A university is taking inventory of the books they carry at their two biggest bookstores.
The East Campus bookstore carries the following books:
Hardcover: Textbooks-5280; Fiction-1680; NonFiction-2320; Reference-1890
Paperback: Textbooks-1930; Fiction-2705; NonFiction-1560; Reference-2130

The West Campus bookstore carries the following books:

Hardcover: Textbooks-7230; Fiction-2450; NonFiction-3100; Reference-1380
Paperback: Textbooks-1740; Fiction-2420; NonFiction-1750; Reference-1170

In order to work with this information, we can represent the inventory of each bookstore using an
organized array of numbers known as a matrix.

Definitions: A matrix is a rectangular table of entries and is used to organize data in a way that
can be used to solve problems. The following is a list of terms used to describe matrices:

 A matrix’s size (or dimension) is written by listing the number of rows “by” the number

of columns.

 The values in a matrix, A, are referred to as entries or elements. The entry in the “mth”

row and “nth” column is written as a mn.

 A matrix is square if it has the same number of rows as it has columns.

 If a matrix has only one row, then it is a row vector. If it has only one column, then the

matrix is a column vector.

 The transpose of a matrix, A, written AT, switches the rows with the columns of A and the

columns with the rows.

 8

 Two matrices are equal if they have the same size and the same corresponding entries.

The inventory of the books at the East Campus bookstore can be represented with the following
2 x 4 matrix:
T FN R
E=
[
Hardback 5280 1680 2320 1890
Paperback 1930 2705 1560 2130 ]
Similarly, the West Campus bookstore’s inventory can be represented with the following matrix:

T FN R
W=
[
Hardback 7230 2450 3100 1380
Paperback 1740 2420 1750 1170 ]
Adding and Subtracting Matrices

In order to add or subtract matrices, they must first be of the same size. The result of the
addition or subtraction is a matrix of the same size as the matrices themselves, and the entries are
obtained by adding or subtracting the elements in corresponding positions.

In our campus bookstores example, we can find the total inventory between the two bookstores
as follows:

E+W =
[5280
1930
+
][
1680 2320 1890 7230 2450 3100 1380
2705 1560 2130 1740 2420 1750 1170 ]
T FN R

= [
Hardback 12510 4130 5420 3270
Paperback 3670 5125 3310 3300 ]
 9

Question: Is matrix addition commutative (e . g . , A + B=B+ A)? Why or why not?

Matrix addition is commutative. This is because the operation is based in the addition of real
numbers, as the entries of each matrix are added to their corresponding entries in the other
matrix/matrices. Since addition of real numbers is commutative, so is matrix addition.

Question: Is matrix subtraction commutative (e . g . , A−B=B−A )? Why or why not?

Matrix subtraction is not commutative. This is because the operation is based in the subtraction
of real numbers, as the entries of each matrix are subtracted from their corresponding entries in
the other matrix/matrices. Since subtraction of real numbers is not commutative, neither is
matrix subtraction.

Question: Is matrix addition associative (e . g . , ( A + B ) +C=A +(B+C ))? Why or why not?
Matrix addition is associative. This is because the operation is based in the addition of real
numbers, as the entries of each matrix are added to their corresponding entries in the other
matrix/matrices. Since addition of real numbers is associative, so is matrix addition.

Question: Is matrix subtraction associative (e . g . , ( A−B )−C= A−(B−C))? Why or why not?
Matrix subtraction is not associative. This is because the operation is based in the subtraction of
real numbers, as the entries of each matrix are subtracted from their corresponding entries in the
other matrix/matrices. Since subtraction of real numbers is not associative, neither is matrix
subtraction.

Scalar Multiplication

Multiplying a matrix by a constant (or scalar) is as simple as multiplying each entry by that
number! Suppose the bookstore manager in East Campus wants to double his inventory. He can
find the number of books of each type that he would need by simply multiplying the matrix E by
the scalar (or constant) 2. The result is as follows:
T FN R T FN R

2 E=2∗
[5280
1930
1680 2320 1890
2705 1560 2130
= ] [
2(5280) 2(1680) 2(2320) 2(1890)
2(1930) 2(2705) 2(1560) 2(2130) ]
T FN R
 10

= [
Hardback 10560 3360 4640 3780
Paperback 3860 5410 3120 4260 ]
 11

Exercises: Consider the following matrices:

[ ] [ ] []
1 0 1 0 6 −21 5
A= 2 −4 3 B=[ 2 8 −6 ] C= 2 4 −9 D= −2
−6 1 8 5 −7 1 3

Find each of the following, or explain why the operation cannot be performed:

a. A+ B: This operation cannot be performed, since matrices A and B are of different dimensions.

b. B – A : This operation also cannot be performed, as A and B have different dimensions.

[ ][ ][ ]
1 0 1 0 6 −21 1 −6 22
c. A−C= 2 −4 3 − 2 4 −9 = 0 −8 12
−6 1 8 5 −7 1 −11 8 7

[ ][ ][ ]
0 6 −21 1 0 1 −1 6 −22
d. C− A= 2 4 −9 − 2 −4 3 = 0 8 −12
5 −7 1 −6 1 8 11 −8 −7

e. 5 B=5∗[ 2 8 −6 ]= [ 10 40 −30 ]

[ ] [ ]
1 0 1 0 6 −21
f. – A +4 C=− 2 −4 3 +4∗ 2 4 −9 =¿
−6 1 8 5 −7 1

[ ][ ][ ]
−1 0 −1 0 24 −84 −1 24 −85
−2 4 −3 + 8 16 −36 = 6 20 −39
6 −1 −8 20 −28 4 26 −29 −4

g. B – D : This operation cannot be performed, since B and D are not of the same size.
 12

[ ] [ ]
0 6 −21 1 0 1
h. 2 C−6 A=2∗ 2 4 −9 −6∗ 2 −4 3 =¿
5 −7 1 −6 1 8

[ ][ ][ ]
0 12 −42 6 0 6 −6 12 −48
4 8 −18 − 12 −24 18 = −8 32 −36
10 −14 2 −36 6 48 46 −20 −46

[ ][ ] [ ]
2 5 7
T
i. B + D= 8 + −2 = 6
−6 3 −3
 13

Lesson 2: Matrix Multiplication

Lesson Plan

Standard Topic/Day: Matrix Multiplication

Content Objective: Elementary Matrix Operations
NC.M4.N.2.1 Execute procedures of addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and scalar (~70 minutes)
multiplication on matrices

PC.N.2.1 Execute the sum and difference

algorithms to combine matrices of appropriate
dimensions; PC.N.2.2 Execute associative and
distributive properties to matrices; PC.N.2.3
Execute commutative property to add matrices;
PC.N.2.4 Execute properties of matrices to
multiply a matrix by a scalar;

DCS.N.1.1 Implement procedures of addition,

subtraction, multiplication and scalar
multiplication on matrices; DCS.N.2.1 Organize
data into matrices to solve problems; DCS.N.2.2
Interpret solutions found using matrix operations
in context

Time Student Does Teacher Does

Warm Up ~5 min Students read the opening Teacher hands out a sheet of paper with the
Elicit/Engage
problem (e.g., Opera Problem opening problem written on it and/or projects it on
Build relevance
or other context of interest) the screen. Teacher opens with the question,
through a problem
from a handout and/or “How might we organize this information in a
Try to find out what
projected on a screen. way that allows us to answer the question?”
your students
already know
Get them interested

Explore In groups of 2-3, students work Teacher asks students to calculate each value of
Connectivity to
build understanding ~15 min together to calculate each value interest by hand, showing their work but not using
of concepts of interest by hand (not using any specific method.
Allow for
 14

collaboration any specific method). (~10

consider
heterogeneous minutes) The teacher brings students back to share their
groups results and confirm their results with other groups.
Move deliberately
from concrete to Students work in groups of 2-3
abstract
Apply scaffolding & to answer teacher’s question.
personalization (~10 minutes). Students can
break the work up among their
group members.

Explain ~15 Students follow along the Teacher conducts lesson on matrix multiplication
Personalize/
Differentiate as min teachers’ explanation on their using the opening problem to demonstrate the
needed opening problem. operation.
Adjust along
teacher/student
centered continuum Students share their thoughts Teacher poses questions: “Is matrix multiplication
Provide vocabulary on teacher’s posed questions. commutative? Is it associative? Why/why not?”
Clarify
understandings Teacher provides examples of why they are/aren’t,
and students practice the operation with those
examples.

Extend ~25 Students complete class Teacher will review students’ work as they
Apply knowledge to
new scenarios min problem set in groups of 2-3 to circulate room and monitor progress, engaging
Continue to apply their new knowledge. students who may be having difficulty in
personalize as
needed discussion to probe their thinking.
Consider grouping
homogeneously Teacher brings class back together to engage in
debrief on the problem set.

Evaluate ~10 Students work on exit ticket Teacher poses exit ticket problem for students to
Formative
Assessment min problem and turn it in. turn in.
How will you know
if students
understand
throughout the
lesson?
 15

Guided Notes Lesson 2 – Teacher Version

Matrix Multiplication

The Metropolitan Opera is planning its last cross-country tour. It plans to perform Carmen and La
Traviata in Atlanta in May. The person in charge of logistics wants to make plane reservations for the
two troupes. Carmen has 2 stars, 25 other adults, 5 children, and 5 staff members. La Traviata has 3
stars, 15 other adults, and 4 staff members. There are 3 airlines to choose from. Redwing charges
round-trip fares to Atlanta of $630 for first class, $420 for coach, and $250 for youth. Southeastern
charges $650 for first class, $350 for coach, and $275 for youth. Air Atlanta charges $700 for first
class, $370 for coach, and $150 for youth. Assume stars travel first class, other adults and staff travel
coach, and children travel for the youth fare.

Use multiplication and addition to find the total cost for each troupe to travel each of the airlines.

Carmen/Redwing: 2 ( 630 ) +30 ( 420 )+ 5 ( 250 )=$ 15110

Carmen/Southeastern: 2 ( 650 ) +30 ( 350 ) +5 ( 275 )=$ 13175

Carmen/Air Atlanta: 2 ( 700 ) +30 ( 370 ) +5 ( 150 )=$ 13250

La Traviata/Redwing: 3 ( 630 ) +19 ( 420 )+ 0 ( 250 )=$ 9870

La Traviata/Southeastern: 3 ( 650 ) +19 ( 350 ) +0 ( 275 )=$ 8600

La Traviata/Air Atlanta:3 ( 700 ) +19 ( 370 ) +0 ( 150 ) =$ 9130

 16

It turns out that we can solve problems like these using a matrix operation, specifically matrix
multiplication!

We first note that matrix multiplication is only defined for matrices of certain sizes. For the product
AB of matrices A and B, where A is an m x n matrix, B must have the same number of rows as A has
columns. So, B must have size n x p . The product AB will have size m x p.

Exercises

The following is a set of abstract matrices (without row and column labels):

[ ]
2 4 1
M= [
1 −1
2 0 ]
N= 0 −1 3 O=
1 0 2
6
−1 [ ]

[ ] [] [
1
0 4
P=
−1
2
1
Q= 1 R=
3
3 1
−1 0 ]
2

[ ][][ ]
3 1 1
4 2 6 −1
1 0 2
S= T= U= 5 3 1 0
0 2 −3
0 2 −1 1
−1 1 4

List at least 5 orders of pairs of matrices from this set for which the product is defined. State the
dimension of each product.

MO: 2x1 MP: 2x2 PM: 2x2 MR: 2x2 RM: 2x2 NQ: 3x1

NU: 3x4 PO: 2x1 US: 3x2 UT: 3x1

 17

Back to the opera…

Define two matrices that organize the information given:

[
stars adults children 2 30 5 ¿
¿ 3 19 0 ]
[ ]
630 650 700
Red South Air
420 350 370 ¿
¿
250 275 150

We can multiply these two matrices to obtain the same answers we obtained above, all in one
matrix!

[ ]
630 650 700
¿ 3 19 0[
stars adults children 2 30 5 ¿ Red
] South Air
¿
420 350 370 ¿
250 275 150

¿ Red
¿ [9870 8600 9130 ]
South Air 15110 13175 13250 ¿

Carmen/Redwing: $ 15110

Carmen/Southeastern: $ 13175

Carmen/Air Atlanta: $ 13250

La Traviata/Redwing: $ 9870

La Traviata/Southeastern: $ 8600

La Traviata/Air Atlanta: $ 9130

 18

Exercises

1. The K.L. Mutton Company has investments in three states - North Carolina, North Dakota,
and New Mexico. Its deposits in each state are divided among bonds, mortgages, and
consumer loans. The amount of money (in millions of dollars) invested in each category on
June 1 is displayed in the table below.
NC ND NM
Bonds 13 25 22
Mort. 6 9 4
Loans 29 17 13

The current yields on these investments are 7.5% for bonds, 11.25% for mortgages, and 6%
for consumer loans. Use matrix multiplication to find the total earnings for each state.

Total earnings for each state (in millions of dollars):

[ ]
13 25 22
Bonds Mort . Loans NC ND NM NC ND NM
6 9 4 ¿=
[ 1.075 1.1125 1.06 ] ¿
29 17 13
[ 3.39 3.9075 2.88 ]

2. Several years ago, Ms. Allen invested in growth stocks, which she hoped would increase in
value over time. She bought 100 shares of stock A, 200 shares of stock B, and 150 shares of
stock C. At the end of each year she records the value of each stock. The table below shows
the price per share (in dollars) of stocks A, B, and C at the end of the years 1984, 1985, and
1986.
1984 1985 1986
Stock A 68.00 72.00 75.00
Stock B 55.00 60.00 67.50
Stock C 82.50 84.00 87.00

Calculate the total value of Ms. Allen’s stocks at the end of each year.

Total value of the stocks (in dollars) at the end of each year:

[ ]
68 72 75
A B C 1984 1985 1986 1984 1985 1986
55 60 67.5 ¿=
[ 100 200 150 ] ¿
82.5 84 87
[ 30,175 31,800 34,050 ]
 19

3. The Sound Company produces stereos. Their inventory includes four models - the Budget, the
Economy, the Executive, and the President models. The Budget needs 50 transistors, 30
capacitors, 7 connectors, and 3 dials. The Economy model needs 65 transistors, 50 capacitors,
9 connectors, and 4 dials. The Executive model needs 85 transistors, 42 capacitors, 10
connectors, and 6 dials. The President model needs 85 transistors, 42 capacitors, 10
connectors, and 12 dials. The daily manufacturing goal in a normal quarter is 10 Budget, 12
Economy, 11 Executive, and 7 President stereos.

a. How many transistors are needed each day? Capacitors? Connectors? Dials?

b. During August and September, production is increased by 40%. How many Budget,
Economy, Executive, and President models are produced daily during these months?

c. It takes 5 person-hours to produce the Budget model, 7 person-hours to produce the

Economy model, 6 person-hours for the Executive model, and 7 person-hours for the
President model. Determine the number of employees needed to maintain the normal
production schedule, assuming everyone works an average of 7 hours each day. How many
employees are needed in August and September?

Define the matrices for the inventory parts (I ) and the daily manufacturing goal(N ) as

[ ]
50 30 7 3
65 50 9 4 B Ec Ex P
I =t ca co d ¿∧N=
¿ 85 42 10 6 [ 10 12 11 7 ]
85 42 10 12

a. The answers are the results of the matrix multiplication

t ca co d
¿=
[ 2810 1656 358 228 ]

b. The new daily manufacturing goals are given by

B Ec Ex P
1.4 N =
[ 14 16.8 15.4 9.8 ]

Which should be rounded to integer quantities

c. Define a matrix H for hours of labor as

 20

[]
5
7
H= ¿ Hrs . ¿
¿ 6
7

The number of labor hours needed per week is given by

NH =249

249
With 7-hour workdays, the number of employees needed is =35.6, which implies
7
that 36 employees are needed to maintain full production. For August and September,
1.4 NH 348.6
we want = , which rounds to 50.
7 7

4. The president of the Lucrative Bank is hoping for a 21% increase in checking accounts, a 35%
increase in savings accounts, and a 52% increase in market accounts. The current statistics on
the number of accounts at each branch are as follows:

Checking Savings Market

[ ]
Northgate 40039 10135 512
Downtown 15231 8751 105
South Square 25612 12187 97

What is the goal for each branch in each type of account? (HINT: multiply by a 3 ×2 matrix
with certain nonzero entries on the diagonal and zero entries elsewhere.) What will be the total
number of accounts at each branch?

The goal for each branch in each type of account is given by:

[ ] [ ]
40039 10135 512 1.21 0 0
csm ¿ ⋅ csm
15231 8751 105 0 1.35 0 ¿
¿ ¿
25612 12187 97 0 0 1.52

[ ]
48447 13682 778.24
¿ ¿ c s m 18430 11814 159.6 ¿
¿
30991 16452 147.44
 21

[]
1
Right-multiplying this result by the matrix 1 yields the following total number of
1

[ ]
62907.68
¿ Total
accounts at each branch: 30402.96 ¿.
¿
47590.41

Note: this answer can also be obtained by just adding up the entries in each row of the
previous matrix.

Lesson 3: Solving Matrix Equations Using Gaussian Elimination

Lesson Plan

Standard Topic/Day: Solving Matrix Equations Using Gaussian

DCS.N.2.1 Organize data into matrices to solve Elimination
problems; Vocabulary: Gaussian elimination
DCS.N.2.2 Interpret solutions found using
matrix operations in context;
DCS.N.2.3 Represent a system of equations as a (~75 minutes)
matrix equation

Time Student Does Teacher Does

Warm Up ~5 min Students read the opening problem (e.g., Teacher hands out a sheet of
Elicit/Engage
Business Problem or other context of paper with the opening
Build relevance through a
interest) from a handout and/or projected problem written on it and/or
problem
on a screen. projects it on the screen.
Try to find out what your
Teacher opens with the
students already know
Get them interested question, “How might we
Students work in groups of 2-3 to represent represent this problem with a
the problem with a system of equations. system of equations?

Explore Students work in groups of 2-3 to answer Teacher asks students to

Connectivity to build
understanding of concepts ~10 min teacher’s question. consider how they could use
Allow for collaboration matrices to represent the
consider heterogeneous
groups system of equations as a
Move deliberately from matrix equation.
 22

concrete to abstract
Apply scaffolding &
personalization The teacher brings students
back to share their results.

Explain ~30 Students follow along the teachers’ Teacher conducts lesson on
Personalize/Differentiate as
needed min explanation on a problem out of context. solving a matrix equation
Adjust along Students work together on practice using a non-contextual
teacher/student centered problems based on the teacher’s lesson. problem. Teacher introduces
continuum
Provide vocabulary the method of Gaussian
Clarify understandings Elimination during this part
of the lesson.

Teacher includes a tutorial

on using the calculator to
apply Gaussian Elimination.

Extend ~20 Students apply their new understanding to Teacher will review
Apply knowledge to new
scenarios min the opening problem. students’ work as they
Continue to personalize as circulate room and monitor
needed
Consider grouping progress, engaging students
homogeneously who may be having difficulty
in discussion to probe their
thinking.

Teacher brings class back

together to engage in debrief
on the problem set.

Evaluate ~10 Students work on exit ticket problem and Teacher poses exit ticket
Formative Assessment
How will you know if min turn it in. problem for students to turn
students understand in.
throughout the lesson?
 23

Guided Notes - Teacher Version

Solving Linear Systems of Equations Using Gaussian Elimination

A business is sponsoring grants for three different projects: scholarships for employees, public
service projects, and remodeling of its storefronts. Each of the store locations in Mathtown made
requests for funds with the relative amounts requested by each location distributed as shown in the
following table:

Location
Project East West South
Scholarships 50% 30% 40%
Public Service 20% 30% 40%
Remodeling 30% 40% 20%

The corporate office has decided to grant $100,000 for the projects, and they decided to distribute it
with 43% to scholarships, 28% to public service and 29% to remodeling.

How can we represent this problem with a system of equations?

Let x = amount of money for the East location

Let y=¿ amount of money for the West location
Let z=¿ amount of money for the South location

We therefore have the following system of equations:

0.5 x +0.3 y +0.4 z=43,000

0.2 x+ 0.3 y+ 0.4 z=28,000
0.3 x +0.4 y +0.2 z=29,000

Example: Consider the following system of linear equations (recall this from Algebra II):
 24

x +3 y=0
x + y + z=1
3 x− y−z =11

We can solve this system by representing it using matrices.

[ ] []
1 3 0 x
We will name the coefficient matrix A= 1 1 1 , the variable vector X = y , and the column
3 −1 −1 z

[]
0
vector B= 1 . So, our matrix equation (also referred to as a linear system of equations)
11
representing the system can be written as AX=B:

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 3 0 x 0
1 1 1 y = 1
3 −1 −1 z 11

One way to solve this system is to use an approach known as Gaussian elimination, or row
reduction.

Gaussian Elimination

You may recall from your prior mathematics work that there are three possible conclusions we can
make about the solution to a system of equations.

Case 1: There exists one unique solution.

Case 2: There is no solution.
Case 3: There is an infinite number of solutions.

Case 1: There exists one unique solution.

Recall our example from above:

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 3 0 x 0
1 1 1 y = 1
3 −1 −1 z 11

To begin, we write the associated augmented matrix, which is written in the following form:
 25

[ |]
1 3 0 0
1 1 1 1
3 −1 −1 11

To apply the method on a matrix, we use elementary row operations to modify the matrix. Our
goal is to end up with the identity matrix, which is an n x n matrix with all 1’s in the main

[ ]
1 ⋯ 0
diagonal and zeros elsewhere: I = ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ , on the left side of the augmented matrix.
0 ⋯ 1

Our solution to the system of equations will be the resulting matrix on the right side of the
augmented matrix. This is because the resulting augmented matrix would represent a system of
equations in which each variable could be solved for (if a solution exists).

Elementary Row Operations:

There are three operations that can be applied to modify the matrix and still preserve the
solution to the system of equations.

 Exchanging two rows (which represents the switching the listing order of two
equations in the system)
 Multiplying a row by a nonzero scalar (which represents multiplying both sides of
one of the equations by a nonzero scalar)
 Adding a multiple of one row to another (which represents does not affect the
solution, since both equations are in the system)

For our example…

x +3 y=0 R1
x + y + z=1 R2
3 x− y−z =11 R 3

System of equations Row operation Augmented matrix

[ |]
x +3 y=0 1 3 0 0
x + y + z=1 1 1 1 1
3 x− y−z =11 3 −1 −1 11

[ |]
R2−R 1 → R 2 1 3 0 0
0 −2 1 1
3 −1 −1 11
 26

x +3 y=0
− y + z=1
3 x− y−z =11

[ |]
x +3 y=0 1 3 0 0
− y + z=1 0 −2 1 1
−10 y−z=11 R3−3 R 1 → R 3 0 −10 −1 11

[ |]
x +3 y=0 1 3 0 0
−12 y=12 0 −12 0 12
−10 y−z=11 R2 + R3 → R 2 0 −10 −1 11

[ |]
x +3 y=0 1 3 0 0
y =−1 −1 0 1 0 −1
R → R2 0 −10 −1 11
−10 y−z=11 12 2

[ |]
x=3 1 0 0 3
y =−1 0 1 0 −1
−10 y−z=11 R1−3 R2 → R 1 0 −10 −1 11

[ |]
x=3 1 0 0 3
y=−1 0 1 0 −1
−z=1 R3 +10 R2 → R3 0 0 −1 1

[ |]
x=3 1 0 0 3
y=−1 0 1 0 −1
z=−1 −R3 → R 3 0 0 1 −1

The solution to our system is therefore x=3 , y=−1∧z=−1.

Back to our opening problem! A business is sponsoring grants for three different projects:
scholarships for employees, public service projects, and remodeling of its storefronts. Each of the
store locations in Mathtown made requests for funds with the relative amounts requested by each
location distributed as shown in the following table:

Location
Project East West South
Scholarships 50% 30% 40%
Public Service 20% 30% 40%
Remodeling 30% 40% 20%
 27

The corporate office has decided to grant $100,000 for the projects, and they decided to distribute it
with 43% to scholarships, 28% to public service and 29% to remodeling. How much money will
each location receive in grants?

Rewrite your system of equations from earlier in this lesson:

0.5 x +0.3 y +0.4 z=43,000

0.2 x+ 0.3 y+ 0.4 z=28,000
0.3 x +0.4 y +0.2 z=29,000

We can represent this system using the following systems of linear equations:

[ ][ ] [ ]
0.5 0.3 0.4 x 43000
0.2 0.3 0.4 y = 28000
0.3 0.4 0.2 z 29000

The augmented matrix for this system is:

[ | ]
0.5 0.3 0.4 43000
0.2 0.3 0.4 28000
0.3 0.4 0.2 29000

[][ ]
x 50,000
Using elementary row operations, we find that y ≈ 20,000
z 30,000

So, $50,000 goes to the East location, $20,000 goes to the West location, and $30,000 goes to the
South location.

Case 2: There is no solution.

2 x− y + z=1
Consider the system of equations: 3 x +2 y−4 z=4
−6 x +3 y−3 z=2

[ |]
2 −1 1 1
Augmented matrix: 3 2 −4 4
−6 3 −3 2
 28

[ |]
2 −1 1 1
Using row operation R3 +3 R1 → R3 , we get 3 2 −4 4 .
0 0 0 5

We note that the third row in the augmented matrix is a false statement, so there is no solution to this
system.

Case 3: There is an infinite number of solutions.

x− y+ 2 z=−3
Consider the system of equations: 4 x + 4 y−2 z=1
−2 x+ 2 y −4 z=6

[ |]
1 −1 2 −3
Augmented matrix: 4 4 −2 1
−2 2 −4 6

[ |]
1 −1 2 −3
R
Using row operations 2 −4 R 1 → R 2 and R 3 +2 R 1 → R 3 , we get 0 8 −10 13 .
0 0 0 0

This represents a system that leaves us with 2 equations and 3 unknowns. So, we are unable to solve
for one variable without expressing it in terms of another. This gives us an infinite number of
solutions.

Exercises

For each of the following problems, identify your variables and write a system of equations to
represent the problem. Then use matrices to solve the system.
1. The Frodo Farm has 500 acres of land allotted for cultivating corn and wheat. The cost of
cultivating corn and wheat is $42 and $30 per acre, respectively. Mr. Frodo has $18,600
available for cultivating these crops. If he wants to use all the allotted land and his entire budget
for cultivating these two crops, how many acres of each crop should he plant? (Adapted from
Finite Mathematics, Tan p. 93 #511)

Let x=¿ number of acres of corn

y=¿ number of acres of wheat

1
Tan, S. (2002). Finite Mathematics for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences (7th ed.). Boston: Brooks Cole.
 29

42 x +30 y=18600
x + y=500

Augmented matrix: [ |
42 30 18600
1 1 500 ]
Solution: x=300 , y=200

300 acres of corn and 200 acres of wheat should be cultivated.

2. The Coffee Cart sells a blend made with two different coffees, one costing $2.50 per pound, and
the other costing $3.00 per pound. If the blended coffee sells for $2.80 per pound, how much of
each coffee is used to obtain the blend? (Assume that the weight of the coffee blend is 100 pounds.)
(Adapted from Finite Mathematics, Tan p. 93 #53)

Let x=¿ number of pounds of $2.50 coffee

y=¿ number of pounds of $3.00 coffee

2.50 x+ 3.00 y=280

x + y=100

Augmented matrix: [ | ]
2.5 3 280
1 1 100

Solution: x=40 , y =60

40 lbs of Coffee 1 should be blended with 60 lbs of Coffee 2 to make the proper blend.

3. The Maple Movie Theater has a seating capacity of 900 and charges $2 for children, $3 for
students, and $4 for adults. At a screening with full attendance last week, there were half as
many adults as children and students combined. The receipts totaled $2800. How many adults
attended the show? (Adapted from Finite Mathematics, Tan p. 97 #60)

Let x=¿ number of children who attended the show

y=¿ number of students who attended the show
z=¿ number of adults who attended the show

x + y + z=2800
2 x+ 3 y + 4 z=900
x + y−2 z=0

[ | ]
1 1 1 2800
Augmented matrix: 2 3 4 900
1 1 −2 0
 30

Solution: x=200 , y=400 , z =300

200 children, 400 students, and 300 adults attended.

4. The Toolies have a total of $100,000 to be invested in stocks, bonds, and a money market
account. The stocks have a rate of return of 12% per year, while bonds pay 8% per year, and the
money market account pays 4% per year. They have decided that the amount invested in stocks
should be equal to the difference between the amount invested in bonds and 3 times the amount
invested in the money market account. How should the Toolies allocate their resources if they
require an annual income of $10,000 from their investments? (Adapted from Finite Mathematics,
Tan p. 106 #36)

Let x=¿ amount allocated to stocks

y=¿ amount allocated to bonds
z=¿ amount allocated to a money market account

x+ y+ z=100,000
.12 x+.08 y +.04 z =10,000
x− y +3 z=0

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 1 1 x 100,000
.12 .08 .04 y = 10,000
1 −1 3 z 0

[ | ]
1 1 1 100,000
Augmented matrix: .12 .08 .04 10,000
1 −1 3 0

Solution: x=50,000 , y=50,000 , z=0

$50,000 should be put into the stock market, $50,000 in bonds, and no investment should be
made in a Money Market Account.
 31

Lesson 4: Exploring X-Ray Imaging through Puzzles

Lesson Plan
Teacher: Subject: Math
Standard Topic/Day: Puzzles and X-Ray Imaging
NC.M4.N.2.1 Execute procedures of addition, Content Objective: Use logic to complete Nonograms and
subtraction, multiplication, and scalar Kakuro games that relate to X-Ray imaging
multiplication on matrices Materials Needed: Games Printed, Paper, Article:
https://plus.maths.org/content/saving-lives-mathematics-
PC.N.2.1 Execute the sum and difference tomography
algorithms to combine matrices of appropriate
dimensions; PC.N.2.2 Execute associative and ~85 minutes
distributive properties to matrices; PC.N.2.3
Execute commutative property to add matrices;

PC.N.2.4 Execute properties of matrices to

multiply a matrix by a scalar;

DCS.N.1.1 Implement procedures of addition,

subtraction, multiplication and scalar
multiplication on matrices.

DCS.N.2.2 Interpret solutions found using

matrix operations in context

Time Student Does Teacher Does

Warm Up Actively monitor the students and

Elicit/Engage
Build relevance their progress.
through a problem ~30 Student completes the given puzzles Help students when needed but
Try to find out what mins
your students already encourage them to utilize each other
know to work through any difficulties that
Get them interested they may run into.

Explore
Connectivity to build Complete a KWL chart about x-rays.
understanding of ~30
concepts Read the article and do a Think, Pair Observe and ask/answer questions as
mins
Allow for Share with the article. needed.
collaboration consider
 32

heterogeneous groups
Move deliberately
from concrete to
abstract
Apply scaffolding &
personalization
Explain Gives guided notes around the article
Personalize/
Differentiate as relating to the mathematics.
needed Participates in discussion around a
Adjust along directed interactive lecture. The optional Milk Delivery
teacher/student
centered continuum Demonstration could go here.
Provide vocabulary ~25 End the discussion by playing “Guess my
Clarify
understandings mins Square” (located in the same document). When the students are playing “Guess
Discuss how there are multiple answers my Square” they should break into
that can be considered correct for the teams. You can have them compete
game. locally at their already assigned
groups, or you can choose to break the
class up into larger teams.

Extend
Apply knowledge to If you have a highflyer that is easily
new scenarios Students should complete the challenge completed the given puzzles, have
Continue to
personalize as needed puzzles some of the challenge puzzles on hand
Consider grouping for them to work on.
homogeneously

Games KEY
Nonogram and Kakuro Puzzles Name: __________________________
Answer Key Date: ______________ Period: _______
1
Solve the following Nonogram puzzles . Nonograms are picture logic puzzles in which cells in a grid
must be colored or left blank according to the numbers at the side of the grid to reveal a hidden
picture. For example: 1 5 2 means 1 square, 5 squares, and 2 squares, in this order, separated by
one or more spaces between them.
Example: 1)

2) 3)
 33

4) 5)

Solve the following Kakuro puzzles2. Each puzzle consists of a

blank grid with sum-clues in various places. The object is to fill all empty squares using numbers 1
to 9 so the sum of each horizontal block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical
block equals the clue on its top. In addition, no number may be used in the same block more than
once.

Example: 6)

7) 8)
 34

9) 10)

Challenge Problems!
11) 12)

13)
 35

Article
Saving Lives: the mathematics of tomography
: https://plus.maths.org/content/saving-lives-mathematics-tomography

Ideas to implement article

 KWL-have students create a table on their paper of 3 columns

o K-What do students already know about X-rays and Imaging
o W-What do students want to know
o L-What did students learn from the article
 Jigsaw-break the article into pieces by paragraph and have groups read it a paragraph at a
time and discuss to keep students from rushing ahead and missing important details.

Lesson 4: X-Ray Notes

X-Rays and Mathematics

When we first think of imaging we probably think of cameras and photography. There are lots
of places imaging is used: our eyes, cameras, X-Rays, CT, MRI, and Ultrasound to name a few.
Even X-rays have a variety of uses. In addition to medical applications, X-rays are used for
security at the airport to be able to see the inside of luggage without having to open each bag or
box.

Digital image - a picture composed of pixels

Pixel - one piece of a picture. The word pixel was formed from picture + element
Array of numbers - arranging of numbers in rows and columns
Matrix - an array of numbers that is used to solve problems involving unknown quantities
 36

Who discovered X-rays and why are they called X-Rays?

Wilhelm Rontgen in 1895 and he called them “X” because it was an unknown type of radiation

Tomography – The word comes from Greek where “tomos” means slice or section and
“grapho” means to write so it is a way to represent a slice or section of the body or other object.

In the basic version of an X-ray machine, has a source that emits X-rays and a detector collects
the X-ray as it passes through the medium of interest (e.g., human bodies) in a straight line. As
the X-ray passes through the medium of interest, it encounters “resistance” and lowers in
intensity. The degree to which this intensity is reduced depends on the materials it encounters
along its straight-line path. Measuring this reduction in intensity can reveal the inner details of
the object. Since we can’t open up a person (surgery) every time we need to see inside, imaging
allows us to look inside using a model similar to the one below.

Cormack and Hounsfield developed computer assisted tomography and won a joint Nobel Prize
for it in 1979. Their crucial insight was that to understand the internal details, they needed to
“look” at the object through multiple angles and piece together the details of the human body.
This is similar, in spirit, to panorama image which also “stiches” multiple images of the same
scenery. Cormack and Hounsfield independently built devices that worked on the above
principles building on the mathematical insights of Radon (1887-1956).
 37

Source: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1979/summary/

The image below shows three examples of how modern X-ray devices use multiple sources and
detectors to collect information about the medium. All three give a different perspective of the
same image which can help determine more information about the image.

Source: Hansen, Jorgensen. Numerical Algorithms 79.1 (2018): 107-137.

Games related to X-ray imaging

You may have heard of a Sudoku, but in this class we will solve two puzzles related to Sudoku
called Kakuro and Nonograms.
 38

How are these puzzles related to x-ray imaging?

When a computer algorithm is generating or reconstructing images using x-ray data, it is trying
to solve a puzzle very similar to that a Nonogram or Kakuro. The key similarities are:

- We do not know the internal details (the variables are the values inside).
- We are given some indirect details on how the numbers add up along rows and columns.

However, the rules of the games (Kakuro, nonograms) are designed in such a way that each
puzzle, however hard it may seem, has a solution that is unique. Unfortunately, that is where the
similarity to reconstructing x-ray images ends. To explain these challenges, first consider the
notion of a well-posed problem.

For a problem to be well-posed:

A solution exists
The solution is unique
The solution’s behavior changes continuously with the inputs

If a problem is not well-posed it is called ill-posed.

Unlike puzzles/games what are well-posed, imaging problems tend to be ill-posed, which makes
them a lot harder to solve in practice. Two other reasons make x-ray imaging more complicated:
1. The sources and detectors are not perfect, they collect noisy measurements. You may
have seen a similar effect when you take photographs in your cellphone cameras in low-
light settings.
2. Patients tend to move during imaging. This means in between two sets of x-ray
measurements the X-ray scanner is looking at two different “patients.”

These uncertainties make X-ray imaging more complicated but also more interesting. More
information about X-ray imaging can be found on this website:
https://www.whydomath.org/node/tomography/index.html.

To show the complications involving ill-posed problems, we will play a couple of simple ill-
posed games.

Milk Delivery
 39

In the article below milk delivery is discussed starting in paragraph 5. This is an option activity
that teachers could demonstrate to help visual and kinesthetic learners understand the ambiguity
of X-Ray imaging. https://plus.maths.org/content/saving-lives-mathematics-tomography

Guess My Square
Directions: Fill in the square that is labeled “your square” with digits between 1 and 9. Then
sum the columns and rows of your square. Tell the opposing team the sums of the columns and
rows only. The opposing team now needs to fill in your square with digits between 1 and 9 to try
to guess the numbers that you filled your square in with. You will also try to guess your
opposing team’s digits. You will put your guess into the square labeled “their square”.
Your Square Their Square
 40

*Note to teacher: There are infinite solutions to these squares, and you will want the
students to realize that through this activity.

Lesson 5: Solving ill-posed puzzles

Standard Topic/Day: Finding solutions to ill posed problems
NC.M4.N.2.1 Execute procedures of addition, Content Objective: Use the process of rays in an X-Ray to solve
subtraction, multiplication, and scalar equations
multiplication on matrices Vocabulary: Gaussian Elimination, Matrix, Vector
Materials Needed: Guided Notes, Student Worksheet
PC.N.2.1 Execute the sum and difference
algorithms to combine matrices of appropriate
dimensions; PC.N.2.2 Execute associative and
distributive properties to matrices; PC.N.2.3 ~85 minutes
Execute commutative property to add matrices;
 41

PC.N.2.4 Execute properties of matrices to

multiply a matrix by a scalar;

DCS.N.1.1 Implement procedures of addition,

subtraction, multiplication and scalar
multiplication on matrices.

DCS.N.2.2 Interpret solutions found using

matrix operations in context

Time Student Does Teacher Does

Warm Up
Elicit/Engage
Build relevance
through a problem Students should work on answering Encourage students to refer back to their
~ 10 the posed questions about Gaussian
Try to find out notes about Gaussian Elimination to answer
mins Elimination as review.
what your students the posed questions.
already know
Get them
interested
Explain
Personalize/
Differentiate as
needed
Adjust along Students will complete the Lesson 5 - Gives guided notes and walk them through.
teacher/student ~30
centered guided notes about X-Rays and Linear Be sure to let them try some of the notes on
mins
continuum Algebra their own.
Provide
vocabulary
Clarify
understandings
Extend
Apply knowledge
to new scenarios Students will complete the Lesson 5 - Actively monitor the classroom to answer
Continue to ~30
personalize as student worksheet applying what they questions and encourage collaboration
mins
needed learned in the notes to a new scenario. between students.
Consider grouping
homogeneously
Evaluate ~ 15 Have the students complete the Lesson Provide the students with the exit ticket.
Formative
Assessment mins 5 – Exit Ticket where they will create
How will you their own diagram and explain why or Actively monitor the students as they are
know if students
understand why not they think it would result in a working on the exit ticket.
 42

throughout the
lesson? unique solution.
Choose groupings to present based on their
image and explanation – you will want to
Have some of the groups share their
choose groups that will add to the
image and explanation with the rest of
knowledge and understanding of students
the class.
who may not fully understand.

Warm Up-Key

X-Ray Day 2 – Warm Up/Engage Name: ______________________________

Answer Key Date: ________________ Period: ________
What are the 3 Elementary Row Operations that you can use while completing Gaussian
Elimination?

1) Exchanging two rows

2) Multiplying a row by a nonzero scalar

3) Adding a multiple of one row to another

What are the 3 possible conclusions that you can make about solving a system of
equations?

1) There exists one unique solution

2) There is no solution

3) There is an infinite number of solutions

During Gaussian Elimination, how do you determine which case you have ended up with?
 43

1) You end up with 1s on the main diagonal of the first square portion of the matrix

2) You end with leading 0s on the bottom row and a constant in the last column of
the bottom row/or any other row (e.g., [0 0 … 0 | 5])

3) Most often, you end up with all zeros on the bottom row/another row (e.g., [0 0 …
0 | 0])

Guided Notes Key

X-Rays – Day 2 Guided Notes Name: _________________________________

Answer Key Date: ____________________ Period:
________

In the previous lesson, we played the “Guess my Square” game where we discovered that there are
more than one solution sets to our squares. Today we are going to look at how we can use a similar
approach and result in one, unique solution. This approach that we will look at today is how the
rays in x-rays move through the body to result in the best image outcome possible.

Given the information in the diagram below, write the system of equations that corresponds.

f1 +f 3 ¿ b1
f2 +f 4 ¿ b2
f1 +f 2 ¿ b3
f3 +f 4 ¿ b4

If we think about the above image as matrix x and x=

[ ]
f1 f3
f2 f4
, the first thing we want to do it

vectorize this matrix.

 44

[]
f1
f
x= 2
f3
f4

Now, write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 0 1 0 f1 b1
0 1 0 1 f2 b
= 2
1 1 0 0 f3 b3
0 0 1 1 f4 b4

Consider the true solution of x= [12 34 ] . What does this matrix look like if we vectorize it?

[]
1
2
x=
3
4
Now, write down the corresponding vector b

[]
4
6
b=
3
7
Using vector b and matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
1 1 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
Now we solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
1)  -R1+R3
1 1 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
2)  R3-R2
0 1 −1 0 ¿ −1
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
3)  -R3
0 0 −1 −1 ¿ −7
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
 45

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
4)  R4-R3
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
5)
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

Set up the new system of equations from your final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.

f1 +f 3 ¿4
f2 +f 4 ¿6
f3 +f 4 ¿7
0 ¿0

What does the 0=0 tell you about the system of equations?
There is no unique solution to this system of equations.
Therefore, according to our rules of Gaussian Elimination, we will end up with infinite solutions.

Since you are not able to solve for a unique solution, instead solve for f 1 , f 2 ,∧f 3 in terms of f 4.
Solve for f3:
f 3 +f 4 ¿7
−f 4 −f 4
f3 ¿7 −f 4
Solve for f2:
f 2 +f 4 ¿6
−f 4 −f 4
f2 ¿6 −f 4
Solve for f1:
f1 +f 3 ¿4
f1 + ( 7−f 4 ) ¿4
−(7−f 4 ) −(7−f 4 )
f1 ¿4 −7+ f 4
f1 ¿−3 +f 4
 46

Refer to the “Guess my Square” game from yesterday. What value of f4 would make your team
guess the opposing team’s answer?
Answer will vary

Making the solution unique

Since the above system gives you infinite solutions, we must now add in more rays. Given the
information in the new diagram below, write the new system of equations that corresponds.
f1 +f 3 ¿ b1
f2 +f 4 ¿ b2
f1 +f 2 ¿ b3
f3 +f 4 ¿ b4
f1 +f 4 ¿ b5

Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 0 1 0 b1
f1
0 1 0 1 b2
f2
1 1 0 0 = b3
f3
0 0 1 1 b4
1 0 0 1 f4
b5

If matrix x= [12 34 ]
, write vector x.

[]
1
2
x=
3
4

Now, write down the corresponding vector b.

 47

[]
4
6
b= 3
7
5
Using the new vector b and new matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
1 1 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5
Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
1) 1 1 0 0 ¿ 3  R4R3
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
2) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R1-R4
1 1 0 0 ¿ 3
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
3) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R2+R4
0 −1 1 0 ¿ 1
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
4) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R3-R4
0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
5) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R5R4
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5
 48

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
6) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R1-R4
1 0 0 1 ¿ 5
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
7) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  R3-R4
0 0 1 −1 ¿ −1
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
8) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7  ½ R4
0 0 0 2 ¿ 8
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

[ ]
1 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 ¿ 6
9) 0 0 1 1 ¿ 7
0 0 0 1 ¿ 4
0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

Write the new system of equations from the final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.

f1 +f 3 ¿4
f2 +f 4 ¿6
f3 +f 4 ¿7
f4 ¿4
0 ¿0

Are you able to solve this system of equations? Why?

Yes, because we have 4 equations with 4 variables to solve for, so the fifth equation of 0=0 doesn’t
affect us trying to solve for a unique solution.
If yes, solve the system of equations.
Solve for f4:
f 4=4
Solve for f3:
f 3 +4 ¿7
−4 −4
f3 ¿3
Solve for f2:
 49

f 2 +4 ¿6
−4 −4
f2 ¿2
Solve for f1:
f 1 +3 ¿4
−3 −3
f1 ¿1

[]
1
2
☼ Final Answer x= (Note: You should get the same vector x that we have above)
3
4

Worksheet Key

X-Rays Student Worksheet Name: _________________________________

Answer Key Date: ____________________ Period:
________

Given the information in the diagram below, write the system of equations that corresponds.

x1 + x3 ¿ b1
b1 x2 + x4 + x5 ¿ b2
x1 + x2 ¿ b3
b2 x3 + x4 ¿ b4
 50

x1 x3
x2 x4 x5

b3 b4 b5
Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 0 1 0 0 x1 b1
0 1 0 1 1 x2 b2
1 1 0 0 0 x 3 = b3
0 0 1 1 0 x4 b4
0 0 0 0 1 x5 b5

[ ][]
x1 1
x2 2
If x= x3 = 3 , write down the corresponding vector b.
x4 4
x5 5

[]
4
11
b= 3
7
5
Using vector b and matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
1) 1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3  R4R3
0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5
 51

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
2) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R1-R4
1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
3) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R2+R4
0 −1 1 0 0 ¿ 1
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
4) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R3-R4
0 0 1 1 1 ¿ 12
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
5) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  -R4
0 0 0 0 −1 ¿ −5
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
6) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R4-R5
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
7) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5
0 0 0 0 0 ¿ 0

As you can see, this will give you infinite solutions. Why did this system give you infinite solutions?
When the last row of the matrix is all zeros, that means that you will have infinite solutions.
Since the above system gives you infinite solutions, we must now add in more rays. Given the
information in the new diagram below, write the new system of equations that corresponds.

x1 + x3 ¿ b1
x1 x3 b1 x2 + x4 + x5 ¿ b2
x1 + x2 ¿ b3
x2 x4 x5
b2 x3 + x4 ¿ b4
x1 + x4 ¿ b5
 52

b3 b4 b5
Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ][ ] [ ]
1 0 1 0 0 x1 b1
0 1 0 1 1 x2 b2
1 1 0 0 0 x 3 = b3
0 0 1 1 0 x4 b4
1 0 0 1 0 x5 b5

[ ][]
x1 1
x2 2
If x= x3 = 3 , write down the corresponding vector b.
x4 4
x5 5

[]
4
11
b= 3
7
5
Using the new vector b and new matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3
0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5

Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
1) 1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3  R4R3
0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5
 53

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
2) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R1-R4
1 1 0 0 0 ¿ 3
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
3) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R2+R4
0 −1 1 0 0 ¿ 1
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
4) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R3-R4
0 0 1 1 1 ¿ 12
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
5) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R5-R4
0 0 0 0 −1 ¿ −5
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
6) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R1-R4
1 0 0 1 0 ¿ 5
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
7) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  R3-R4
0 0 1 −1 0 ¿ −1
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
8) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7  ½ R4
0 0 0 2 0 ¿ 8
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

[ ]
1 0 1 0 0 ¿ 4
0 1 0 1 1 ¿ 11
9) 0 0 1 1 0 ¿ 7
0 0 0 1 0 ¿ 4
0 0 0 0 1 ¿ 5

Write and solve the new system of equations from the final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.
 54

x1 + x3 ¿4
x2 + x4 + x5 ¿ 11
x3 + x4 ¿7
x4 ¿4
x5 ¿5
Solve for x3:
x3 +4 ¿7
−4 −4
x3 ¿3
Solve for x2:
x2 +4 +5 ¿ 11
x2 +9 ¿ 11
−9 −9
x2 ¿2
Solve for x1:
x1 +3 ¿4
−3 −3
x1 ¿1

[]
1
2
☼ Final Answer: x= 3 (Note: You should get the same vector x that we have above)
4
5

Exit Ticket

X-Rays Day 2 – Exit Ticket Name: _________________________________

Date: __________________ Period:
__________
Create your own square image and rays below (this image must be different from one used in class
today):
 55

Will this image produce a unique solution? Why?

 56

References and Additional Readings

 Bartkovich, K. G., Goebel, J. A., Graves, J. L., Teague, D. J., Barrett, G. B., Compton, H.
L., & Whitehead, K. (2000). Contemporary Precalculus through Applications. New
York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

 How Math Can Save Your Life: Tomography. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2020, from
https://www.whydomath.org/node/tomography/index.html

 Saving lives: The mathematics of tomography. (2018, July 26). Retrieved July 23, 2020,
from https://plus.maths.org/content/saving-lives-mathematics-tomography

 Tan, S. (2002). Finite Mathematics for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences (7th
ed.). Boston: Brooks Cole.
 57

Appendices Lesson Materials – Student Versions

Lesson 1 - Guided Notes - Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 58

Matrix Addition, Subtraction and Scalar Multiplication

A university is taking inventory of the books they carry at their two biggest bookstores.
The East Campus bookstore carries the following books:
Hardcover: Textbooks-5280; Fiction-1680; NonFiction-2320; Reference-1890
Paperback: Textbooks-1930; Fiction-2705; NonFiction-1560; Reference-2130

The West Campus bookstore carries the following books:

Hardcover: Textbooks-7230; Fiction-2450; NonFiction-3100; Reference-1380
Paperback: Textbooks-1740; Fiction-2420; NonFiction-1750; Reference-1170

In order to work with this information, we can represent the inventory of each bookstore using an
organized array of numbers known as a matrix.

Definitions: A __________ is a rectangular table of entries and is used to organize data in a way
that can be used to solve problems. The following is a list of terms used to describe matrices:

 A matrix’s ___________________________ is written by listing the number of rows

“by” the number of columns.

 The values in a matrix, A, are referred to as ______________ or ______________. The

entry in the “mth” row and “nth” column is written as a mn.

 A matrix is ______________ if it has the same number of rows as it has columns.

 If a matrix has only one row, then it is a row ____________. If it has only one column,

then the matrix is a column ______________.

 The __________________ of a matrix, A, written AT, switches the rows with the columns

of A and the columns with the rows.

 59

 Two matrices are _____________ if they have the same size and the same corresponding

entries.

The inventory of the books at the East Campus bookstore can be represented with the following
2 x 4 matrix:
T FN R
Hardback [ ]
E= ¿
Paperback

Similarly, the West Campus bookstore’s inventory can be represented with the following matrix:

T FN R
Hardback [ ]
W= ¿
Paperback

Adding and Subtracting Matrices

In order to add or subtract matrices, they must first be of the same ______________________.
The result of the addition or subtraction is a matrix of the same size as the matrices themselves,
and the entries are obtained by adding or subtracting the elements in corresponding positions.

In our campus bookstores example, we can find the total inventory between the two bookstores
as follows:

E+W =[ ¿ ] + [ ¿ ]

T FN R
Hardback [ ]
= ¿
Paperback
 60

Question: Is matrix addition commutative (e . g . , A + B=B+ A)? Why or why not?

Question: Is matrix subtraction commutative (e . g . , A−B=B−A )? Why or why not?

Question: Is matrix addition associative (e . g . , ( A + B ) +C=A +(B+C ))? Why or why not?

Question: Is matrix subtraction associative (e . g . , ( A−B )−C= A−(B−C))? Why or why not?

Scalar Multiplication

Multiplying a matrix by a constant (or scalar) is as simple as multiplying each entry by that
number! Suppose the bookstore manager in East Campus wants to double his inventory. He can
find the number of books of each type that he would need by simply multiplying the matrix E by
the scalar (or constant) 2. The result is as follows:
T FN R
Hardback [ ]
2 E=2∗[ ¿ ] = ¿
Paperback
 61

Exercises: Consider the following matrices:

[ ] [ ] []
1 0 1 0 6 −21 5
A= 2 −4 3 B=[ 2 8 −6 ] C= 2 4 −9 D= −2
−6 1 8 5 −7 1 3

Find each of the following, or explain why the operation cannot be performed:

b. A+ B b. B – A

c.A–C d. C – A

e. 5 B f. − A+ 4 C

g. B – D h. 2 C−6 A

i. BT + D
 62

Lesson 2 - Guided Notes – Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 63

Matrix Multiplication

The Metropolitan Opera is planning its last cross-country tour. It plans to perform Carmen and La
Traviata in Atlanta in May. The person in charge of logistics wants to make plane reservations for the
two troupes. Carmen has 2 stars, 25 other adults, 5 children, and 5 staff members. La Traviata has 3
stars, 15 other adults, and 4 staff members. There are 3 airlines to choose from. Redwing charges
round-trip fares to Atlanta of $630 for first class, $420 for coach, and $250 for youth. Southeastern
charges $650 for first class, $350 for coach, and $275 for youth. Air Atlanta charges $700 for first
class, $370 for coach, and $150 for youth. Assume stars travel first class, other adults and staff travel
coach, and children travel for the youth fare.

Use multiplication and addition to find the total cost for each troupe to travel each of the airlines.
 64

It turns out that we can solve problems like these using a matrix operation, specifically matrix
multiplication!

We first note that matrix multiplication is only defined for matrices of certain sizes. For the product
AB of matrices A and B, where A is an m x n matrix, B must have the same number of rows as A has
columns. So, B must have size ¿¿ p . The product AB will have size ¿¿

Exercises

The following is a set of abstract matrices (without row and column labels):

[ ]
2 4 1
M= [
1 −1
2 0 ]
N= 0 −1 3 O=
1 0 2
6
−1 [ ]

[ ] [] [
1
0 4
P=
−1
2
1
Q= 1 R=
3
3 1
−1 0 ]
2

[ ][][ ]
3 1 1
4 2 6 −1
1 0 2
S= T= U= 5 3 1 0
0 2 −3
0 2 −1 1
−1 1 4

List at least 5 orders of pairs of matrices from this set for which the product is defined. State the
dimension of each product.
 65

Back to the opera…

Define two matrices that organize the information given:

stars adults children ¿ ¿ ¿

¿ ¿ ¿ [ ] Red South Air [ ¿ ] ¿
¿

We can multiply these two matrices to obtain the same answers we obtained above, all in one
matrix!

stars adults children ¿ ¿ ¿ Red South Air [ ¿ ] ¿

¿ ¿ ¿ [ ] ¿

¿ Red South Air ¿

¿

Carmen/Redwing:

Carmen/Southeastern:

Carmen/Air Atlanta:

La Traviata/Redwing:

La Traviata/Southeastern:

La Traviata/Air Atlanta:

Exercises2

2
Adapted from Bartkovich, K. G., Goebel, J. A., Graves, J. L., Teague, D. J., Barrett, G. B., Compton, H. L., ... &
Whitehead, K. (2000). Contemporary Precalculus through Applications. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
 66

NC ND NM
Bonds 13 25 22
Mort. 6 9 4
Loans 29 17 13

3. The K.L. Mutton Company has investments in three states - North Carolina, North Dakota,
and New Mexico. Its deposits in each state are divided among bonds, mortgages, and
consumer loans. The amount of money (in millions of dollars) invested in each category on
June 1 is displayed in the table below.

The current yields on these investments are 7.5% for bonds, 11.25% for mortgages, and 6%
for consumer loans. Use matrix multiplication to find the total earnings for each state.

4. Several years ago, Ms. Allen invested in growth stocks, which she hoped would increase in
value over time. She bought 100 shares of stock A, 200 shares of stock B, and 150 shares of
stock C. At the end of 1984 1985 1986 each year she records the
value of each stock. Stock A 68.00 72.00 75.00 The table below shows
the price per share (in Stock B 55.00 60.00 67.50 dollars) of stocks A, B,
and C at the end of the Stock C 82.50 84.00 87.00 years 1984, 1985, and
1986.

Calculate the total value of Ms. Allen’s stocks at the end of each year.
 67

3. The Sound Company produces stereos. Their inventory includes four models - the Budget, the
Economy, the Executive, and the President models. The Budget needs 50 transistors, 30
capacitors, 7 connectors, and 3 dials. The Economy model needs 65 transistors, 50 capacitors,
9 connectors, and 4 dials. The Executive model needs 85 transistors, 42 capacitors, 10
connectors, and 6 dials. The President model needs 85 transistors, 42 capacitors, 10
connectors, and 12 dials. The daily manufacturing goal in a normal quarter is 10 Budget, 12
Economy, 11 Executive, and 7 President stereos.

a. How many transistors are needed each day? Capacitors? Connectors? Dials?

b. During August and September, production is increased by 40%. How many Budget,
Economy, Executive, and President models are produced daily during these months?

c. It takes 5 person-hours to produce the Budget model, 7 person-hours to produce the

Economy model, 6 person-hours for the Executive model, and 7 person-hours for the
President model. Determine the number of employees needed to maintain the normal
production schedule, assuming everyone works an average of 7 hours each day. How many
employees are needed in August and September?
 68

4. The president of the Lucrative Bank is hoping for a 21% increase in checking accounts, a 35%
increase in savings accounts, and a 52% increase in market accounts. The current statistics on
the number of accounts at each branch are as follows:

Checking Savings Market

[ ]
Northgate 40039 10135 512
Downtown 15231 8751 105
South Square 25612 12187 97

What is the goal for each branch in each type of account? (HINT: multiply by a 3 ×2 matrix
with certain nonzero entries on the diagonal and zero entries elsewhere.) What will be the total
number of accounts at each branch?
 69

Lesson 3 - Guided Notes - Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 70

Solving Linear Systems of Equations Using Gaussian Elimination

A business is sponsoring grants for three different projects: scholarships for employees, public
service projects, and remodeling of its storefronts. Each of the store locations in Mathtown made
requests for funds with the relative amounts requested by each location distributed as shown in the
following table:

Location
Project East West South
Scholarships 50% 30% 40%
Public Service 20% 30% 40%
Remodeling 30% 40% 20%

The corporate office has decided to grant $100,000 for the projects, and they decided to distribute it
with 43% to scholarships, 28% to public service and 29% to remodeling.

How can we represent this problem with a system of equations?

Let x =

Let y=¿

Let z=¿

We therefore have the following system of equations:

Example: Consider the following system of linear equations (recall this from Algebra II):

x +3 y=0
x + y + z=1
3 x− y−z =11

We can solve this system by representing it using matrices.

 71

[]
x
We will name the ________________ matrix A=[ ¿ ], the variable vector X = y , and the column
z

[]
0
vector B= 1 . So, our matrix equation (also referred to as a linear system of equations)
11
representing the system can be written as AX=B:

[][ ]
x 0
[ ¿] y = 1
z 11

One way to solve this system is to use an approach known as

___________________________________, or row reduction.

Gaussian Elimination

You may recall from your prior mathematics work that there are three possible conclusions we can
make about the solution to a system of equations.

Case 1: There exists one unique solution.

Case 2: There is no solution.
Case 3: There is an infinite number of solutions.

Case 1: There exists one unique solution.

Recall our example from above:

[][ ]
x 0
[ ¿] y = 1
z 11

To begin, we write the associated _______________________________, which is written in the

following form:

To apply the method on a matrix, we use __________________________________________ to

 72

modify the matrix. Our goal is to end up with the ___________________________, which is an

[ ]
1 ⋯ 0
n x n matrix with all 1’s in the main diagonal and zeros elsewhere: I = ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ , on the left side
0 ⋯ 1
of the augmented matrix.
Our solution to the system of equations will be the resulting matrix on the right side of the
augmented matrix. This is because the resulting augmented matrix would represent a system of
equations in which each variable could be solved for (if a solution exists).

Elementary Row Operations:

There are three operations that can be applied to modify the matrix and still preserve the
solution to the system of equations.

 Exchanging two rows (which represents the switching the listing order of two
equations in the system)
 Multiplying a row by a nonzero scalar (which represents multiplying both sides of
one of the equations by a nonzero scalar)
 Adding a multiple of one row to another (which represents does not affect the
solution, since both equations are in the system)
 73

For our example…

x +3 y=0 R1
x + y + z=1 R2
3 x− y−z =11 R 3

System of equations Row operation Augmented matrix

 74

Back to our opening problem! A business is sponsoring grants for three different projects:
scholarships for employees, public service projects, and remodeling of its storefronts. Each of the
store locations in Mathtown made requests for funds with the relative amounts requested by each
location distributed as shown in the following table:

Location
Project East West South
Scholarships 50% 30% 40%
Public Service 20% 30% 40%
Remodeling 30% 40% 20%

The corporate office has decided to grant $100,000 for the projects, and they decided to distribute it
with 43% to scholarships, 28% to public service and 29% to remodeling. How much money will
each location receive in grants?

Rewrite your system of equations from earlier in this lesson:

We can represent this system using the following linear systems of equations:

[ ¿ ] [ ¿ ]= [ ¿ ]
The augmented matrix for this system is:
 75

[]
x
Using elementary row operations, we find that y ≈ [ ¿ ]
z

So, __________________ goes to the East location, ________________ goes to the West location,

and __________________ goes to the South location.

Case 2: There is no solution.

2 x− y + z=1
Consider the system of equations: 3 x +2 y−4 z=4
−6 x +3 y−3 z=2

Augmented matrix: ¿

Using row operation R3 +3 R1 → R3 , we get ¿

We note that the third row in the augmented matrix is a false statement, so there is no solution to this
system.

Case 3: There is an infinite number of solutions.

x− y+ 2 z=−3
Consider the system of equations: x + 4 y−2 z=1
4
−2 x+ 2 y −4 z=6

Augmented matrix:¿

Using row operations R2−4 R1 → R 2 and R3 +2 R1 → R3, we get ¿

This represents a system that leaves us with 2 equations and 3 unknowns. So, we are unable to solve
for one variable without expressing it in terms of another. This gives us an infinite number of
solutions.
76
 77

Exercises

For each of the following problems, identify your variables and write a system of equations to
represent the problem. Then use Gaussian elimination to solve the system.

1. The Frodo Farm has 500 acres of land allotted for cultivating corn and wheat. The cost of
cultivating corn and wheat is $42 and $30 per acre, respectively. Mr. Frodo has $18,600
available for cultivating these crops. If he wants to use all the allotted land and his entire budget
for cultivating these two crops, how many acres of each crop should he plant? (Adapted from Finite
Mathematics, Tan p. 93 #513)

2. The Coffee Cart sells a blend made with two different coffees, one costing $2.50 per pound, and
the other costing $3.00 per pound. If the blended coffee sells for $2.80 per pound, how much of
each coffee is used to obtain the blend? (Assume that the weight of the coffee blend is 100
pounds.) (Adapted from Finite Mathematics, Tan p. 93 #53)

3
Tan, S. (2002). Finite Mathematics for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences (7th ed.). Boston: Brooks
Cole.
 78

3. The Maple Movie Theater has a seating capacity of 900 and charges $2 for children, $3 for
students, and $4 for adults. At a screening with full attendance last week, there were half as
many adults as children and students combined. The receipts totaled $2800. How many adults
attended the show? (Adapted from Finite Mathematics, Tan p. 97 #60)

4. The Toolies have a total of $100,000 to be invested in stocks, bonds, and a money market
account. The stocks have a rate of return of 12% per year, while bonds pay 8% per year, and the
money market account pays 4% per year. They have decided that the amount invested in stocks
should be equal to the difference between the amount invested in bonds and 3 times the amount
invested in the money market account. How should the Toolies allocate their resources if they
require an annual income of $10,000 from their investments? (Adapted from Finite Mathematics, Tan
p. 106 #36)
 79

Lesson 4 - Games – Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 80

Nonogram and Kakuro Puzzles Name:

___________________________
Date: _______________ Period: ______
1
Solve the following Nonogram puzzles . Nonograms are picture logic puzzles in which cells in a grid
must be colored or left blank according to the numbers at the side of the grid to reveal a hidden
picture. For example: 1 5 2 means 1 square, 5 squares, and 2 squares, in this order, separated by
one or more spaces between them.
Example: 1)

2) 3)

4) 5)
 81

Solve the following Kakuro puzzles2. Each puzzle consists of a blank grid with sum-clues in various
places. The object is to fill all empty squares using numbers 1 to 9 so the sum of each horizontal
block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. In
addition, no number may be used in the same block more than once.

Example: 6)

7) 8)

9) 10)

Challenge Problems!
11) 12)
 82

13)

Lesson 5-Warm Up-Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 83

X-Ray Day 2 – Warm Up/Engage Name: _________________________________

Date: ____________________ Period:
________
What are the 3 Elementary Row Operations that you can use while completing Gaussian
Elimination?
 84

4)

5)

6)

What are the 3 possible conclusions that you can make about solving a system of equations?

During Gaussian Elimination, how do you determine which case you have ended up with?

4)

5)

6)

Lesson 5 – Guided Notes Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 85

X-Rays – Day 2 Guided Notes Name: _________________________________

Date: ____________________ Period:
________
Yesterday we played the “Guess my Square” game where we discovered that there are more than
one solution sets to our squares. Today we are going to look at how we can use a similar approach
and result in one, unique solution. This approach that we will look at today is how the rays in x-rays
move through the body to result in the best image outcome possible.
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Given the information in the diagram below, write the system of equations that corresponds.

If we think about the above image as matrix x and x=

[ ] f1 f3
f2 f4
, the first thing we want to do it

vectorize this matrix.

x= [ ¿ ]

Now, write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ¿ ] [ ¿ ]= [ ¿ ]

Consider the true solution of x= [12 34 ] . What does this matrix look like if we vectorize it?

x= [ ¿ ]

Now, write down the corresponding vector b

b=[ ¿ ]
Using vector b and matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.
[ ¿]
Now we solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.
1) [ ¿ ]
2) [ ¿ ]
3) [ ¿ ]
4) [ ¿ ]
5) [ ¿ ]
Set up the new system of equations from your final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.
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What does the 0=0 tell you about the system of equations?

Therefore, according to our rules of Gaussian Elimination, we will end up with

__________________ solutions.

Since you are not able to solve for a unique solution, instead solve for f 1 , f 2 ,∧f 3 in terms of f 4.

Refer to the “Guess my Square” game from yesterday. What value of f4 would make your team
guess the opposing team’s answer?

Making the solution unique

Since the above system gives you infinite solutions, we must now add in more rays. Given the
information in the new diagram below, write the new system of equations that corresponds.

Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.

[ ¿ ] [ ¿ ]= [ ¿ ]

If matrix x= [12 34 ]
, write vector x.

x= [ ¿ ]
Now, write down the corresponding vector b.
b=[ ¿ ]
Using the new vector b and new matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.
[ ¿]
Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.
1) [ ¿ ]
2) [ ¿ ]
3) [ ¿ ]
 88

4) [ ¿]
5) [ ¿]
6) [ ¿]
7) [ ¿]
8) [ ¿]
9) [ ¿]

Write the new system of equations from the final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.

Are you able to solve this system of equations? Why?

If yes, solve the system of equations.

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☼ Final Answer: x= [ ¿ ] (Note: You should get the same vector x that we have above)

Lesson 5-Worksheet Student Version

 Student version begins on next page
 90

X-Rays Student Worksheet Name: _________________________________

Date: ____________________ Period:
________

Given the information in the diagram below, write the system of equations that corresponds.

x1 x3 b1
x2 x4 x5
b2

b3 b4 b5
Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.
[ ¿ ] [ ¿ ]= [ ¿ ]

[ ][]
x1 1
x2 2
If x= x3 = 3 , write down the corresponding vector b.
x4 4
x5 5

b=[ ¿ ]
Using vector b and matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.
[ ¿]

Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.
1) [ ¿ ]
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2) [ ¿]
3) [ ¿]
4) [ ¿]
5) [ ¿]
6) [ ¿]
7) [ ¿]

As you can see, this will give you infinite solutions. Why did this system give you infinite solutions?

Since the above system gives you infinite solutions, we must now add in more rays. Given the
information in the new diagram below, write the new system of equations that corresponds.

x1 x3 b1
x2 x4 x5
b2

b3 b4 b5
Write the matrix-vector equation in the form Ax=b.
[ ¿ ] [ ¿ ]= [ ¿ ]

[ ][]
x1 1
x2 2
If x= x3 = 3 , write down the corresponding vector b.
x4 4
x5 5

b=[ ¿ ]
Using the new vector b and new matrix A from above, write the augmented matrix.
[ ¿]

Now prove that there is a unique solution and solve for vector x by using Gaussian Elimination.
1) [ ¿ ]
2) [ ¿ ]
3) [ ¿ ]
4) [ ¿ ]
5) [ ¿ ]
6) [ ¿ ]
7) [ ¿ ]
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8) [ ¿ ]
9) [ ¿ ]
Write and solve the new system of equations from the final matrix in your Gaussian Elimination.

☼ Final Answer: x= [ ¿ ] (Note: You should get the same vector x that we have above)