To use the Visual Basic program that performs the arithmetic for your chosen row operations, do the following:
- In your Web browser, go to the site
"
www.engr.mun.ca/~ggeorge/2050". - Click on the link "Demonstration Files".
- Click on the link "
linsys.exe".
For Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 4 or higher:
{ For some other browsers:
}
linsys.exe" in a
directory of your choice. linsys.exe"
(in the directory that you chose in step iv)
Read the instructions in the next dialog box and click the "OK" button.
In the next dialog box, enter the name of an output file and click the "OK" button.
This program is showing its age: the default drive is "a:"!
You will need to change this (to "c:" if you are using the computer’s main drive).In the next dialog box, enter the number of rows in your linear system and click "OK".
In the next dialog box, enter the number of columns (counting also any right side constants) in your linear system and click the "OK" button.
The main program window should now appear.
Change the value of any entry that is not correct. Each entry is presented in the form numerator / denominator. In most cases, you will have to change most of the numerators but few or none of the denominators.An entry can be overwritten by double-clicking the mouse on that entry, and typing the new value in the box. The old entry can be edited by single-clicking the mouse on that entry and using delete or backspace keys to erase unwanted digits.
Once you have begun applying row operations in step (xi) below, do not change the table entries manually again.
Once the linear system is correct, then select your first row operation. Click on the row to change (bottom left box), the row to use (near bottom centre) and in the pair of boxes near the bottom right corner enter the multiple of the latter row to be subtracted from the former row.
[Some row operations do not need some of this information].
When ready, click on the appropriate row operation button.
- If you attempt an illegal row operation, then an error dialog box
will appear. Click "OK" and try step (xi) again.
Recall that any unintended but valid row operation can be undone by applying its inverse immediately afterwards. - Repeat step (xi) for each subsequent row operation.
When finished, click the red "Quit" button at the right end of the bottom row of the window.
- Confirm your exit by clicking the "Yes" button in the next dialog box.
Your output is now stored in the filename that you chose in step (vii). Use your favourite word processing program (Notepad, Wordpad, Word, etc.) to view the output file. You can also print the output file - it is a plain text file that any printer should be able to understand.
