(1) ax + y + z = 4 (2) x + by + z = 3 (3) x + 2by + z = 4 Subtract (1)-(2) (4) (a-1)x + (1-b)y = 1 Subtract (1)-(3) (5) (a-1)x + (1-2b)y = 0 Subtract (4)-(5) (1-b)y-(1-2b)y = 1 y-by-y+2by = 1 (6) by = 1 Case 1 b=0 Substitute in (6) 0y = 1 there is no solution. Assume b≠0, then by (6) y = 1/b Substitute in (4) (4) (a-1)x + (1-b)y = 1 (a-1)x + (1-b)(1/b) = 1 (a-1)x + 1/b - 1 = 1 (a-1)x + 1/b = 2 b(a-1)x + 1 = 2b (7) b(a-1)x = 2b-1 Case 2 a=1, b≠0 Then from (7), the left side is 0, so 2b-1 = 0 2b = 1 b = 1/2 y = 1/(1/2) = 2 Substitute in (4) (4) (a-1)x + (1-b)y = 1 (a-1)x + (1-1/2)(2) = 1 (a-1)x + (1/2)(2) = 1 (a-1)x + 1 = 1 (a-1)x = 0 0x = 0 Any value of x will make that true, so there are infinitely many solutions when a=1, b≠0 You can solve for z if you like as it will be defined, and unique, since the denominator b is not 0. Case 3 a≠1 b≠0 (6) by = 1 y = 1/b (7) b(a-1)x = 2b-1 x = (2b-1)/[b(a-1)] (2) x + by + z = 3 You can solve for z if you like as it will be defined, and unique, since no denominator is 0. So There are no solutions when b=0 There are infinitely many solutions when a=1, b≠0 There is one solution if a≠1, b≠0 Edwin