Lining the letters up vertically as below, makes it easier to see what's what: 3x + 3y = 3 -3x - 2z = -11 y + z = -1 The idea is to reduce this 3x3 system to a 2x2 system. This is done by using the three equations to obtain only two equations in only two unknowns. 1. We observe that x is already eliminated from the 3rd equation and 2. We observe that x is easily eliminated from the 1st and 2nd equations just by adding them term by term just as they are, since the coefficients of x in them are equal in absolute value but opposite in sign. So we add them term by term: 3x + 3y = 3 -3x - 2z = -11 ------------------- 3y - 2z = -8 3. Next we solve the system 3y - 2z = -8 y + z = -1 We can eliminate z if we multiply the 2nd equation (which was the 3rd original equation) by 2 and adding them term by term: 3y - 2z = -8 2y + 2z = -2 ------------ 5y = -10 y = -2 4. Then we substitute -2 for y in y + z = -1 -2 + z = -1 z = 1 5. Then finally we substitute -2 for y in the first original equation 3x + 3y = 3 3x + 3(-2) = 3 3x - 6 = 3 3x = 9 x = 3 Solution (x,y,z) = (3,-2,1) Edwin