This is called an "over-determined system, so there are likely more than one solution. Eliminate y and get 4x = z Eliminate x and get 4y = 80-5z 4y = 80-(4+1)z 4y = 80-4z-z Divide through by 4 Isolate the fraction: The right side is an integer, so the right side is too Let that intger be A then and 20-z-y = A z = 4A Substitute in 4y = 80-5z 4y = 80-5(4A) 4y = 80-20A y = 20-5A Substitute that and z = 4A in 20 = x+y+z 20 = x+(20-5A)+4A 20 = x+20-5A+4A 20 = x+20-A -x = -A x = A So we have All must be > 0 so Solving the first and third give A > 0 Solving the second one: 20-5A > 0 -5A > -20 Divide both sides by -5 reverses the inequality A < 4 0 < A < 4 So A is in the set {1, 2, 3} with A=1 becomes with A=2 with A=3 The problem has 3 solutions. Edwin