Equation (1): 5x+2y = 4 Equation (2): 3x+4y+2z = 6 Equation (3): 7x+3y+4z = 29 Since z is already eliminated in the equation (1), we eliminate z from equations (2) and (3) by multiplying equation (2) through by -2 getting -6x-8y-4z = -12 and adding it to equation (3): 7x+3y+4z = 29 -6x-8y-4z = -12 --------------- Equation (4) x-5y = 17 Now we take equation (1) with equation (4): Equation (1): 5x+2y = 4 Equation (4) x-5y = 17 Solve equation (4) for x: Equation (5) x = 17+5y and substitute 17+5y for x in equation (1) 5(17+5y)+2y = 4 85+25y+2y = 4 85+27y = 4 27y = 4-85 27y = -81 y = -3 Substituting that in equation (5): x = 17+5y x = 17+5(-3) x = 17-15 x = 2 Substitute x = 2 and y = -3 in equation (2) 3x+4y+2z = 6 3(2)+4(-3)+2z = 6 6-12+2z = 6 -6+2z = 6 2z = 12 z = 6 So the solution is, , Edwin