A chemical plant uses a system of interconnected pipes. If the matrix representing the flow rates becomes singular, which outcome occurs?

💡 Explanation

If the matrix representing the flow rates is singular, it means the system of linear equations describing the flow does not have a unique solution, because the determinant is zero which implies linear dependence. Therefore, a unique solution for flow rates cannot be determined, rather than the system becoming unstable or flow rates maximizing, which are unrelated consequences.

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