Express a as a linear combination of b and c

[Gregg]

Homework Statement

$a=\left( \begin{array}{c} -1 \\ 3 \\ 13 \end{array} \right)$

$b=\left( \begin{array}{c} 1 \\ 2 \\ 2 \end{array} \right)$

$c=\left( \begin{array}{c} 1 \\ 3 \\ 5 \end{array} \right)$

The Attempt at a Solution

Am I supposed to determine this from inspection or through a process?

 

[Gregg]

a=-6b+5c from simultaneous equations its sorted.

 

[MLeszega]

There is a process you can do to solve this (although some of these problems are easy enough to be solved through inspection). You want to write a as a linear combination of b and c, so write it like this:

x$$\vec{b}$$ + y$$\vec{c}$$ = $$\vec{a}$$

Then you solve for x and y. This can be done easily by creating a matrix and putting it in RREF.

Your matrix should look like this:

1 1 : -1
2 3 : 3
2 5 : 13

So use Gaussian elimination, put it in RREF and you will have your answers for x and y. (Sorry about the sad looking matrix but I suck with latex lol)