Precalculus Examples

$x - 2 y + 3 z = 6$ , $2 x + y + z = 2$ , $- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = - 12$

Step 1

Choose two equations and eliminate one variable. In this case, eliminate $x$ .

$x - 2 y + 3 z = 6$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2

Eliminate $x$ from the system.

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Step 2.1

Multiply each equation by the value that makes the coefficients of $x$ opposite.

$(- 2) \cdot (x - 2 y + 3 z) = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2.2

Simplify.

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Step 2.2.1

Simplify the left side.

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Step 2.2.1.1

Simplify $(- 2) \cdot (x - 2 y + 3 z)$ .

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Step 2.2.1.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$- 2 x - 2 (- 2 y) - 2 (3 z) = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2.2.1.1.2

Simplify.

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Step 2.2.1.1.2.1

Multiply $- 2$ by $- 2$ .

$- 2 x + 4 y - 2 (3 z) = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2.2.1.1.2.2

Multiply $3$ by $- 2$ .

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = (- 2) (6)$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2.2.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 2.2.2.1

Multiply $- 2$ by $6$ .

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = - 12$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = - 12$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = - 12$

$2 x + y + z = 2$

Step 2.3

Add the two equations together to eliminate $x$ from the system.

	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
$+$		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

Step 2.4

The resultant equation has $x$ eliminated.

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 3

Choose another two equations and eliminate $x$ .

$2 x + y + z = 2$

$- 2 x + 4 y - 6 z = - 12$

Step 4

Eliminate $x$ from the system.

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Step 4.1

Add the two equations together to eliminate $x$ from the system.

		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
$+$	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

Step 4.2

The resultant equation has $x$ eliminated.

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 5

Take the resultant equations and eliminate another variable. In this case, eliminate $y$ .

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6

Eliminate $y$ from the system.

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Step 6.1

Multiply each equation by the value that makes the coefficients of $y$ opposite.

$(- 1) \cdot (5 y - 5 z) = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6.2

Simplify.

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Step 6.2.1

Simplify the left side.

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Step 6.2.1.1

Simplify $(- 1) \cdot (5 y - 5 z)$ .

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Step 6.2.1.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$- 1 (5 y) - 1 (- 5 z) = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6.2.1.1.2

Multiply.

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Step 6.2.1.1.2.1

Multiply $5$ by $- 1$ .

$- 5 y - 1 (- 5 z) = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6.2.1.1.2.2

Multiply $- 5$ by $- 1$ .

$- 5 y + 5 z = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

$- 5 y + 5 z = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

$- 5 y + 5 z = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

$- 5 y + 5 z = (- 1) (- 10)$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6.2.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 6.2.2.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 10$ .

$- 5 y + 5 z = 10$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

$- 5 y + 5 z = 10$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

$- 5 y + 5 z = 10$

$5 y - 5 z = - 10$

Step 6.3

Add the two equations together to eliminate $y$ from the system.

	$-$	$5$	$y$	$+$	$5$	$z$	$=$		$1$	$0$
$+$		$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$
						$0$	$=$			$0$

Step 6.4

The resultant equation has $y$ eliminated.

$0 = 0$

Step 7

Because the resultant equation includes no variables and is true, the system of equations has an infinite number of solutions.

Infinite number of solutions

	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
$+$		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
$+$	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

	$-$	$5$	$y$	$+$	$5$	$z$	$=$		$1$	$0$
$+$		$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$
						$0$	$=$			$0$

	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
$+$		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
$+$	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

	$-$	$5$	$y$	$+$	$5$	$z$	$=$		$1$	$0$
$+$		$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$
						$0$	$=$			$0$

	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
$+$		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

		$2$	$x$	$+$		$y$	$+$		$z$	$=$			$2$
$+$	$-$	$2$	$x$	$+$	$4$	$y$	$-$	$6$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$2$
					$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$

	$-$	$5$	$y$	$+$	$5$	$z$	$=$		$1$	$0$
$+$		$5$	$y$	$-$	$5$	$z$	$=$	$-$	$1$	$0$
						$0$	$=$			$0$