2x+3y+7z = 13 3x+2y-5z = -22 5x+7y-3z = -28 1. Pick a letter to eliminate and two equations that contain that letter. I will arbitrarily pick the letter y to eliminate and I will arbitrarily pick the equations: 3x+2y-5z = -22 5x+7y-3z = -28 to eliminate y from. Since the coefficients of y are 2 and 7, multiply the first equation through by -7 and the second one through by 2 so they will have coefficients that will cancel when equals are added to equals: -21x-14y+35z = 154 10x+14y- 6z = -56 ------------------- -11x +29z = 98 2. Next, eliminate that same letter from one of those equation and the equation you did not use in step 1. I did not use 2x+3y+7z = 13 in step 1. I will use it with 3x+2y-5z = -22 to eliminate the same letter y. 3x+2y-5z = -22 2x+3y+7z = 13 Multiply the first one through by -3 and the second one through by 2: -9x-6y+15z = 66 4x+6y+14z = 26 --------------- -5x +29z = 92 3. Now you have a system of only two equations in two letters: -11x+29z = 98 -5x+29z = 92 Multiply the first equation through by -1 11x-29z = -98 -5x+29z = 92 -------------- 6x = -6 x = -1 4. Now we switch over to substitution. Substitute what you got in step 3 in one of those last two equations in only two letters. I will substitute -1 for x in one of those last two equations in only two letters: I will pick this one: -5x+29z = 92 -5(-1)+29z = 92 5+29z = 92 29z = 87 z = 3 5. Substitute those two letters in one of the original equations that contains the first letter you eliminated. I will substitute -1 for x and 3 for z in this original equation: 3x+2y-5z = -22 3(-1)+2y-5(3) = -22 -3+2y-15 = -22 2y-18 = -22 2y = -4 y = -2 The solution is (x,y,z) = (-1,-2,3). Edwin