(1) x + y + z = -5 (2) 2x + 3y - 2z = 8 (3) x - y + 4z = -21 We can eliminate y by adding (1) and (3) term by term (1) x + y + z = -5 (3) x - y + 4z = -21 ---------------------------- (4) 2x + 5z = -26 We can eliminate y from (2) and (3) by multiplying (3) by -3 and adding to (2) 3x - 3y + 12z = -63 (2) 2x + 3y - 2z = 8 ---------------------------- 5x + 10z = -55 And we can divide that through by 5: (5) x + 2z = -11 So now we have the 2 by 2 system of (4) and (5) (4) 2x + 5z = -26 (5) x + 2z = -11 Multiply (5) by -2 and add to (4) -2x - 4z = 22 (4) 2x + 5z = -26 ------------- (6) z = -4 Substitute z = -4 in (5) (5) x + 2z = -11 x + 2(-4) = -11 x - 8 = -11 x = -3 Substitute x = -3 and z = -4 in (1) (1) x + y + z = -5 -3 + y + (-4) = -5 y - 7 = -5 y = 2 So solution is (x,y,z) = (-3,2,-4) Edwin