Puts a matrix into row-echelon form.
ref(matrix)
Press:
- MATRX (on the TI-83) or 2nd MATRX (TI-83+ or higher) to access the matrix menu.
- RIGHT to access the MATH submenu.
- ALPHA A to select ref(, or use arrows.
TI-83/84/+/SE
2 bytes
Given a matrix with at least as many columns as it has rows, the ref( command uses a technique called Gaussian elimination to put the matrix into row-echelon form.
This means that the leftmost N columns (if the matrix has N rows) of the matrix are upper triangular - all entries below the main diagonal are zero. What's more, every entry on the main diagonal is either 0 or 1.
[[1,2,5,0][2,2,1,2][3,4,6,2]]
[[1 2 5 0]
[2 2 1 2]
[3 4 6 2]
ref(Ans)►Frac
[[1 4/3 2 2/3]
[0 1 9/2 -1 ]
[0 0 0 0 ]]Advanced Uses
In theory, a system of linear equations in N variables can be solved using the ref( command - an equation of the form $a_1x_1+\dots + a_nx_n = b$ becomes a row $a_1, \dots, a_n, b$, and is put into the matrix. If there is a sufficient number of conditions, the last row of the reduced matrix will give you the value of the last variable, and back-substitution will give you the others.
In practice, it's easier to use rref( instead for the same purpose.
Error Conditions
- ERR:INVALID DIM is thrown if the matrix has more rows than columns.
Related Commands
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