I corrected the error which the other tutor observed and changed the x to z. Line them up like this: (1) x + 2y + z = -3 (2) 2x - 2y + z = 4 (3) x - y + 2z = 5 We pick a letter to eliminate and then pick two of the equations to eliminate it from. We notice that if we add (1) and (2) the y's cancel out, so we pick y to eliminate and we pick (1) and (2) to eliminate it from. So we add (1) and (2) (1) x + 2y + z = -3 (2) 2x - 2y + z = 4 ------------------------- (4) 3x + 2z = 1 Now we pick a different pair to eliminate the same letter y from. If we multiply (3) by 2 and add it to (1) the y's will cancel (1) x + 2y + z = -3 2x - 2y + 4z = 10 ------------------------- (5) 3x + 5z = 7 So we have this system of two equations in two unknowns: (4) 3x + 2z = 1 (5) 3x + 5z = 7 If we multiply (4) by -1 and add (5) to it the x's will cancel: -3x - 2z = -1 (5) 3x + 5z = 7 -------------------- 3z = 6 z = 2 Substitute z = 2 in (4) (4) 3x + 2(2) = 1 3x + 4 = 1 3x = -3 x = -1 Substitute z = 2 and x = -1 in (1) (1) x + 2y + z = -3 -1 + 2y + 2 = -3 2y + 1 = -3 2y = -4 y = -2 (x,y,z) = (-1,-2,2) Edwin