We interpret the chained statement as the system
− k x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 , -kx+3y-14z=25, − k x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 ,
− 15 x + 4 y − k z = 3 , -15x+4y-kz=3, − 15 x + 4 y − k z = 3 ,
− 4 x + y + 3 z = 4. -4x+y+3z=4. − 4 x + y + 3 z = 4.
We must find all values of k k k for which this system is consistent.
1. Write the coefficient matrix
The coefficient matrix is
A = ( − k 3 − 14 − 15 4 − k − 4 1 3 ) A=\begin{pmatrix}
-k & 3 & -14\\
-15 & 4 & -k\\
-4 & 1 & 3
\end{pmatrix} A = − k − 15 − 4 3 4 1 − 14 − k 3
and the constant column is
B = ( 25 3 4 ) . B=\begin{pmatrix}25\\3\\4\end{pmatrix}. B = 25 3 4 .
A linear system is certainly consistent whenever det ( A ) ≠ 0 \det(A)\neq 0 det ( A ) = 0 .
So first compute det ( A ) \det(A) det ( A ) .
2. Compute the determinant
Expanding along the first row:
det ( A ) = ( − k ) ∣ 4 − k 1 3 ∣ − 3 ∣ − 15 − k − 4 3 ∣ + ( − 14 ) ∣ − 15 4 − 4 1 ∣ . \det(A)=(-k)\begin{vmatrix}4 & -k\\1 & 3\end{vmatrix}-3\begin{vmatrix}-15 & -k\\-4 & 3\end{vmatrix}+(-14)\begin{vmatrix}-15 & 4\\-4 & 1\end{vmatrix}. det ( A ) = ( − k ) 4 1 − k 3 − 3 − 15 − 4 − k 3 + ( − 14 ) − 15 − 4 4 1 .
Now evaluate each minor:
∣ 4 − k 1 3 ∣ = 12 + k , \begin{vmatrix}4 & -k\\1 & 3\end{vmatrix}=12+k, 4 1 − k 3 = 12 + k ,
∣ − 15 − k − 4 3 ∣ = − 45 − 4 k , \begin{vmatrix}-15 & -k\\-4 & 3\end{vmatrix}=-45-4k, − 15 − 4 − k 3 = − 45 − 4 k ,
∣ − 15 4 − 4 1 ∣ = − 15 + 16 = 1. \begin{vmatrix}-15 & 4\\-4 & 1\end{vmatrix}=-15+16=1. − 15 − 4 4 1 = − 15 + 16 = 1.
Hence
det ( A ) = ( − k ) ( 12 + k ) − 3 ( − 45 − 4 k ) − 14. \det(A)=(-k)(12+k)-3(-45-4k)-14. det ( A ) = ( − k ) ( 12 + k ) − 3 ( − 45 − 4 k ) − 14.
Simplifying,
det ( A ) = − 12 k − k 2 + 135 + 12 k − 14 = 121 − k 2 . \det(A)=-12k-k^2+135+12k-14=121-k^2. det ( A ) = − 12 k − k 2 + 135 + 12 k − 14 = 121 − k 2 .
So
det ( A ) = 121 − k 2 = ( 11 − k ) ( 11 + k ) . \det(A)=121-k^2=(11-k)(11+k). det ( A ) = 121 − k 2 = ( 11 − k ) ( 11 + k ) .
Thus det ( A ) = 0 \det(A)=0 det ( A ) = 0 when
k = 11 or k = − 11. k=11 \quad \text{or} \quad k=-11. k = 11 or k = − 11.
For all other real k k k , the system has a unique solution, hence is consistent.
3. Check the exceptional values
We must check whether the system is still consistent at k = ± 11 k=\pm 11 k = ± 11 .
Case 1: k = 11 k=11 k = 11
The system becomes
− 11 x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 . . . ( 1 ) -11x+3y-14z=25 \quad ...(1) − 11 x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 ... ( 1 )
− 15 x + 4 y − 11 z = 3 . . . ( 2 ) -15x+4y-11z=3 \quad ...(2) − 15 x + 4 y − 11 z = 3 ... ( 2 )
− 4 x + y + 3 z = 4 . . . ( 3 ) -4x+y+3z=4 \quad ...(3) − 4 x + y + 3 z = 4 ... ( 3 )
From ( 3 ) (3) ( 3 ) ,
y = 4 + 4 x − 3 z . y=4+4x-3z. y = 4 + 4 x − 3 z .
Substitute into ( 1 ) (1) ( 1 ) :
− 11 x + 3 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 14 z = 25 -11x+3(4+4x-3z)-14z=25 − 11 x + 3 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 14 z = 25
− 11 x + 12 + 12 x − 9 z − 14 z = 25 -11x+12+12x-9z-14z=25 − 11 x + 12 + 12 x − 9 z − 14 z = 25
x − 23 z = 13. . . . ( 4 ) x-23z=13. \quad ...(4) x − 23 z = 13. ... ( 4 )
Substitute into ( 2 ) (2) ( 2 ) :
− 15 x + 4 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 11 z = 3 -15x+4(4+4x-3z)-11z=3 − 15 x + 4 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 11 z = 3
− 15 x + 16 + 16 x − 12 z − 11 z = 3 -15x+16+16x-12z-11z=3 − 15 x + 16 + 16 x − 12 z − 11 z = 3
x − 23 z = − 13. . . . ( 5 ) x-23z=-13. \quad ...(5) x − 23 z = − 13. ... ( 5 )
Equations ( 4 ) (4) ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) (5) ( 5 ) contradict each other. Hence the system is inconsistent for k = 11 k=11 k = 11 .
Case 2: k = − 11 k=-11 k = − 11
The system becomes
11 x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 . . . ( 1 ) 11x+3y-14z=25 \quad ...(1) 11 x + 3 y − 14 z = 25 ... ( 1 )
− 15 x + 4 y + 11 z = 3 . . . ( 2 ) -15x+4y+11z=3 \quad ...(2) − 15 x + 4 y + 11 z = 3 ... ( 2 )
− 4 x + y + 3 z = 4 . . . ( 3 ) -4x+y+3z=4 \quad ...(3) − 4 x + y + 3 z = 4 ... ( 3 )
From ( 3 ) (3) ( 3 ) ,
y = 4 + 4 x − 3 z . y=4+4x-3z. y = 4 + 4 x − 3 z .
Substitute into ( 1 ) (1) ( 1 ) :
11 x + 3 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 14 z = 25 11x+3(4+4x-3z)-14z=25 11 x + 3 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) − 14 z = 25
11 x + 12 + 12 x − 9 z − 14 z = 25 11x+12+12x-9z-14z=25 11 x + 12 + 12 x − 9 z − 14 z = 25
23 x − 23 z = 13 23x-23z=13 23 x − 23 z = 13
x − z = 13 23 . . . . ( 4 ) x-z=\frac{13}{23}. \quad ...(4) x − z = 23 13 . ... ( 4 )
Substitute into ( 2 ) (2) ( 2 ) :
− 15 x + 4 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) + 11 z = 3 -15x+4(4+4x-3z)+11z=3 − 15 x + 4 ( 4 + 4 x − 3 z ) + 11 z = 3
− 15 x + 16 + 16 x − 12 z + 11 z = 3 -15x+16+16x-12z+11z=3 − 15 x + 16 + 16 x − 12 z + 11 z = 3
x − z = − 13. . . . ( 5 ) x-z=-13. \quad ...(5) x − z = − 13. ... ( 5 )
Again ( 4 ) (4) ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) (5) ( 5 ) contradict. Hence the system is inconsistent for k = − 11 k=-11 k = − 11 .
4. Final set of values
Therefore, the system is consistent for all real k k k except
k = 11 , − 11. k=11, -11. k = 11 , − 11.
So the required set is
R − { − 11 , 11 } . \mathbb{R}-\{-11,11\}. R − { − 11 , 11 } .
5. Match with options
This corresponds to Option D .