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Linear AlgebraChallengeRow Reduction & Rank

Row Reduction & Rank · Challenge problem

Balance the chemical equation

a KMnO4+b HCl→c KCl+d MnCl2+e H2O+f Cl2a\,\mathrm{KMnO_4} + b\,\mathrm{HCl} \to c\,\mathrm{KCl} + d\,\mathrm{MnCl_2} + e\,\mathrm{H_2O} + f\,\mathrm{Cl_2}

by writing one linear equation per element (K, Mn, O, H, Cl) and row reducing. Using the smallest positive whole-number coefficients, find a+b+c+d+e+fa + b + c + d + e + f.