Solving Systems of Three Linear Equations in Three Variables

Solutions of a system with 3 equations

The solution to a system of three linear equations in three variables is an ordered triple.

(x, y, z)
The solution must be a solution of all 3 equations.

Is (3, 2, 4) a solution of this system?

3x + 2y + 4z = 11 3(3) + 2(2) + 4(4) = 11 P 2x y + 3z = 4 2(3) 2 + 3(4) = 4 P 5x 3y + 5z = 1 5(3) 3(2) + 5(4) = 1P Yes, it is a solution to the system because it is a solution to all 3 equations.

Methods Used to Solve Systems in 3 Variables 1. Substitution

2. Elimination
.. And others (we will look at these in chapter 4)

Why not graphing?

While graphing may technically be used as a means to solve a system of three linear equations in three variables, it is very tedious and very difficult to find an accurate solution. The graph of a linear equation in three variables is a plane.

This lesson will focus on the Elimination Method.

Use elimination to solve the following system of equations. x 3y + 6z = 21 3x + 2y 5z = 30 2x 5y + 2z = 6

Step 1

Rewrite the system as two smaller systems, each containing two of the three equations.

x 3y + 6z = 21 3x + 2y 5z = 30 2x 5y + 2z = 6
x 3y + 6z = 21 3x + 2y 5z = 30 x 3y + 6z = 21 2x 5y + 2z = 6

Step 2
Eliminate THE SAME variable in each of the two smaller systems.

Any variable will work, but sometimes one may be a bit easier to eliminate. I choose x for this system.

(x 3y + 6z = 21) (3) 3x + 2y 5z = 30 3x + 9y 18z = 63 3x + 2y 5z = 30 11y 23z = 93

(x 3y + 6z = 21) (2) 2x 5y + 2z = 6 2x + 6y 12z = 42 2x 5y + 2z = 6 y 10z = 48

Step 3
Write the resulting equations in two variables together as a system of equations. Solve the system for the two remaining variables.

11y 23z = 93 (11) y 10z = 48 11y 23z = 93 11y + 110z = 528

87z = 435 z=5 y 10(5) = 48 y 50 = 48 y=2

Step 4
Substitute the value of the variables from the system of two equations in one of the ORIGINAL equations with three variables.

x 3y + 6z = 21 3x + 2y 5z = 30 2x 5y + 2z = 6
I choose the first equation.

x 3(2) + 6(5) = 21 x 6 + 30 = 21 x + 24 = 21 x = 3

Step 5
CHECK the solution in ALL 3 of the original equations.

Write the solution as an ordered triple.

x 3y + 6z = 21 3x + 2y 5z = 30 2x 5y + 2z = 6

3 3(2) + 6(5) = 21 3(3) + 2(2) 5(5) = 30 2(3) 5(2) + 2(5) = 6

P P

The solution is (3, 2, 5).

Try this one.

x 6y 2z = 8 x + 5y + 3z = 2 3x 2y 4z = 18

(4, 3, 3)

Heres another one to try.

5x + 3y + z = 15 10x + 2y + 8z = 18 15x + 5y + 7z = 9

(1, 4, 2)