x–3y+3z = 10 2x+ y–3z = –3 x–2y+ z = 6 Add the first two equations above term by term and the x's will cancel: x–3y+3z = 10 2x+ y–3z = –3 ------------- 3x-2y = 7 That has z eliminated. So we eliminate z from the 2nd and 3rd equations at the top: x–3y+3z = 10 x–2y+ z = 6 We need to multiply x-2y+z=6 through by -3 to make the z's cancel when we add them term by term: x–3y+3z = 10 -3x+6y-3z = -18 --------------- -2x+3y = -8 So we have a system of only two equations in two unknowns: 3x-2y = 7 -2x+3y = -8 To make the y's cancel multiply the first one by 3 and the second one through by 2 9x-6y = 21 -4x+6y = -16 ------------ 5x = 5 x = 1 Substitute x = 1 in 3x-2y = 7 3(1)-2y = 7 3-2y = 7 -2y = 4 y = -2 Substitute x = 1 and y = -2 in one of the original equations to find z. x–3y+3z = 10 (1)-3(-2)+3z = 10 1 + 6 + 3z = 10 7 + 3z = 10 3z = 3 z = 1 Solution (x,y,z) = (1,-2,1) Edwin