Mathematics
Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using Gaussian Elimination
Quick fact
Gaussian elimination is one of the oldest numerical algorithms still in everyday use, and it forms the basis for most computer algebra systems when solving linear equations.
Why this is interesting
You’ve solved two equations with two unknowns by juggling numbers. What if you have fifty equations? There’s a method that turns the whole mess into a simple staircase—and it works no matter how big the system gets.