Question:
Examine the consistency of the system of equations.
$x+y+z=1$
$2 x+3 y+2 z=2$
$a x+a y+2 a z=4$
Solution:
The given system of equations is:
$x+y+z=1$
$2 x+3 y+2 z=2$
$a x+a y+2 a z=4$
This system of equations can be written in the form AX = B, where
$A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & 1 & 1 \\ 2 & 3 & 2 \\ a & a & 2 a\end{array}\right], X=\left[\begin{array}{l}x \\ y \\ z\end{array}\right]$ and $B=\left[\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 2 \\ 4\end{array}\right]$.
Now
$\begin{aligned}|A| &=1(6 a-2 a)-1(4 a-2 a)+1(2 a-3 a) \\ &=4 a-2 a-a=4 a-3 a=a \neq 0 \end{aligned}$
$\therefore A$ is non-singular.
Therefore, $A^{-1}$ exists.
Hence, the given system of equations is consistent.