z=4, y=-25, x=18 These do not check in the first equation 3x + y + z = 0 3(18) + (-25) + 4 = 0 54 - 25 + 4 = 0 33 = 0 These do not check in the second equation, either. 2x - y + z = 0 2(18) - (-25) + 4 = 0 36 + 25 + 4 = 0 65 = 0 These do not check in the third equation, either. 2x + y + z = 0 2(18) + (-25) + 4 = 0 36 - 25 + 4 = 0 15 = 0 The only solution is x=0, y=0, z=0 The other tutor is right in one respect, but wrong in another respect. When the numbers on the right (not coefficients, as he stated) are all aero, it's true that x = y = z = 0 is a solution. However that is not necessarily the only solution. It was in your case, but not in all cases. For example: x + y + 3z = 0 x + 2y + 4z = 0 x + 3y + 5z = 0 This one has infinitely many solutions. x = y = z = 0 is indeed a solution, but also x=-2, y=-1, and z=1 is a solution and x=4, y=2, and z=-2 is also a solution. The general solution is x = -2k, y = -k, and z = k, where k is any number Edwin