ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the use of MATLAB 's inv and Gauss-Elimination functions for solving a system of algebraic, linear equations. The method of solving a system of linear equations by use of MATLAB's inv function is more computationally complicated than a method called Gauss elimination. In the Gauss-Elimination method, the original system is reduced to an equivalent triangular set that can readily be solved by back substitution. In engineering we are frequently confronted with dealing with a problem involving a set of algebraic, linear equations. Before the use of computers, the method of determinants was used to obtain a solution to a system of algebraic, linear equations. Computationally, it is only practical for a system involving just a few equations. Since it is much easier to solve such a system by MATLAB's inv function or MATLAB's Gauss-Elimination function, we will skip the method of determinants.
