Always write systems of equations so that like terms line up vertically, like this: 5y - 7z = 14 2x + y + 4z = 10 2x + 6y - 3z = 30 The first equation contains only 2 letters. That is, x is already eliminated in the first equation. Therefore we eliminate x from the other two equations: We multiply the 2nd equation by -1 and add it term by term to the 3rd equation: -2x - y - 4z = -10 2x + 6y - 3z = 30 ------------------- 5y - 7z = 20 Now we put the first equation together with this one and we now have only two equations in only two variables: 5y - 7z = 14 5y - 7z = 20 We eliminate y by multiplying the second equation by -1 and adding: 5y - 7z = 14 -5y + 7z = -20 ----------------- 0z = -6 There can be no value of z such that when we multiply by 0 we well get -6, so there is no solution. The system of equations is said to be INCONSISTENT. Edwin