Is there a standard solution for Gauss elimination in Python?

matrix, numpy, python

Solution

I finally found, that it can be done using LU decomposition. Here the U matrix represents the reduced form of the linear system.

from numpy import array
from scipy.linalg import lu

a = array([[2.,4.,4.,4.],[1.,2.,3.,3.],[1.,2.,2.,2.],[1.,4.,3.,4.]])

pl, u = lu(a, permute_l=True)

Then `u` reads

array([[ 2.,  4.,  4.,  4.],
       [ 0.,  2.,  1.,  2.],
       [ 0.,  0.,  1.,  1.],
       [ 0.,  0.,  0.,  0.]])

Depending on the solvability of the system this matrix has an upper triangular or trapezoidal structure. In the above case a line of zeros arises, as the matrix has only rank `3`.

Problem

Is there somewhere in the cosmos of `scipy/numpy/...` a standard method for Gauss-elimination of a matrix? One finds many snippets via google, but I would prefer to use "trusted" modules if possible.

Original source