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JEE Advanced 2023 Paper 2 · Mathematics · Matrices and Determinants · medium

Consider the system of linear equations in x,y,z: x+y+z=6, x+2y+3z=14, x+2y+az=b, where a,b are real constants.

One or more options correct

Consider the system of linear equations in x,y,zx,y,z: x+y+z=6, x+2y+3z=14, x+2y+az=bx+y+z=6,\ x+2y+3z=14,\ x+2y+az=b, where a,ba,b are real constants. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. A. The system has a unique solution if and only if a≠3a\ne3
  2. B. For a=3a=3 and b=15b=15 the system has at least one solution
  3. C. For a=3a=3 and b=14b=14 the solution set is a straight line passing through the point (−2,8,0)(-2,8,0)
  4. D. For a=2a=2 and b=10b=10 the unique solution satisfies x=y+zx=y+z
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Answer: A, C

The determinant of the coefficient matrix is ∣11112312a∣=a−3\begin{vmatrix}1&1&1\\1&2&3\\1&2&a\end{vmatrix}=a-3, so a unique solution exists iff a≠3a\ne3 (A true). For a=3a=3 the third equation minus the second gives 0=b−140=b-14. So b=15b=15 makes the system inconsistent (B false), while b=14b=14 leaves the first two equations: subtracting, y+2z=8y+2z=8, so y=8−2zy=8-2z and x=z−2x=z-2; this is the line through (−2,8,0)(-2,8,0) with direction (1,−2,1)(1,-2,1) (C true). For a=2,b=10a=2,b=10: equation 3 minus equation 2 gives −z=−4-z=-4, so z=4z=4, y=0y=0, x=2x=2; then y+z=4≠2=xy+z=4\ne2=x (D false).
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