function [A,b] = pivot(k,A,b)

[n,m] = size(A);

% first find where the largest entry is at or below A(k,k)
i_piv = k;
piv_max = abs(A(k,k));
for i=k+1:n
  if abs(A(i,k)) > piv_max
    i_piv = i;
    piv_max = abs(A(i,k));
  end
end

% now that we know where the largest entry is, we swap the rows of A:
temp = A(k,:);
A(k,:) = A(i_piv,:);
A(i_piv,:) = temp;

% and we swap the entries of b:
temp = b(k);
b(k) = b(i_piv);
b(i_piv) = temp;