I 100% agree with you. You do not have to get 1 on the diagonal until the very end. However, it seems that the instructions required that the student do the that way.I'd start with replacing R1 with R2 - R1.
I don't want to confuse. I just want to emphasize that there is NOT just one way to proceed. I like to avoid fractions as long as possible.
Just head for the reduced form however it makes sense to you.
I've always been a rebel, like that.I 100% agree with you. You do not have to get 1 on the diagonal until the very end. However, it seems that the instructions required that the student do the that way.
I hate these type problems that require students to do a problem a certain way. I do however understand that students need to be able to do these steps