Since x is already eliminated from the 2nd equation, we will eliminate x from the 1st and 3rd by multiplying the 1st equation through by -1 and adding it term by term to the 3rd equation like this: -2x+3y-3z=3 2x+3y+4z=9 ------------ 6y+ z=12 Now we take that with the 2nd original equation and we have a system of 2 equations in 2 unknowns: However we can see that if 6y+z=8, then 6y+z cannot equal 12, so there is no solution. This is an inconsistent system of equations. Edwin