Chapter 4 2
Chapter 4 2
2
Solving Systems of Linear
Equations in Three Variables
Objective
We will
NOT
be graphing
equations
in three
variables!
Example 1
Solve:
3 x y z 15
x 2y z 1
2 x 3 y 2 z 0
Equation 1
Equation 2
Equation 3
Example 1: Continued
2(3x y + z) = 2(-15)
2x + 3y -2z = 0
Simplifies
to
6x 2y + 2z = -30
2x + 3y - 2z = 0
8 x + y = -30 Equation 5
Step 3
-1(4x + y) = -1 (-14)
8 x + y = -30
Simplifies
to
-4x y = 14
8x + y = -30
4 x = -16
x = -4
Equation 4
Let x = -4
Equation 2
Equation 2
Equation 3
x + 2y z = 1
2x + 3y 2z = 0
(-4) +2(2) (-1) = 1 2(-4) +3(2) 2(-1) = 0
-4 + 4 + 1 = 1
-8 + 6 + 2 = 0
1= 1
0=0
True
True
2 x y 3z 13 Equation 1
x y z 2 Equation 2
3x 2 y 2 z 13
Equation 3
4)
x 3 y z 11
x 2 y 4z 0
Equation 1
Equation 2
Equation 3
Simplifies
to
10 y -10 z = -22
-10 y + 10 z = 24
0=2
False
Give it a try!
x y z 6
x 2y z 1
Concept Check
In the system
x y z 6
2 x y z 3
x 2 y 3z 14
4z 1
4 x
y 4z 3
Step 1: Notice that equation (2) has no term containing the variable y. Eliminate
y using equations (1) and (3)
2x + 4y
=1
-4(y 4z ) = -4(-3)
Simplifies
to
2x + 4y
=1
-4y + 16 z = 12
2x + 16 z = 13
Equation 4
Step 2: Solve for z using equations (4) and (2). Multiply both sides of equation (4)
by 2 and add the resulting equation to equation (2).
-2(2x + 16 z) = -2(13)
-4x 32 z = -26
4x - 4z = -1
4x - 4z = -1
-36 z = -27
z=
Example 3: Continued
Step 3: Replace z with in equation (3) and solve for y.
y 4 () = -3
y 3 = -3
y=0
Step 4: Replace y with 0 in equation (1) and solve for x.
2x + 4(0) = 1
2x = 1
x=
Step 5: Substitute the solutions into all three equations in the
system. ( , 0, )
x 5 y 2z 6
2 x 10 y 4 z 12
1
5
x y z 3
2
2
5
1
2 x y z 2 3
2
2
x 5 y 2z 6
Step 2: Multiply both sides of equation (2) All three equations are identical, and
by - so that the coefficient of x is 1.
Therefore, equations (1), (2), and (3) are
The resulting system is then:
All equivalent. There are infinitely many solutions
x 5 y 2z 6
x 5 y 2z 6
x 5 y 2z 6
0
x 3y
y z 25
x 3y = 0
x = 3y
-y + z = -25
z = y - 25
0
x 3y
y z 25
x 4y 5z = 35
(3y) 4y 5(y 25) = 35
3y 4y 5y + 125 = 35
-6y + 125 = 35
-6y = -90
y = 15
Step 4: Substitute y = -15 into equation (2) and solve for x
x 3(15) = 0
x - 45 = 0
x = 45
Step 5: Substitute y = 15 into equation (3) and solve for z
-(15) + z = -25
z = -10
Give it a try!
2 x 5 y 3 z 30
3
x y
2 x
z 0
Give it a try!
2 x
1
x
2
3 y 4z 2
6 y 8z 4
3
y 2z 1
2
Solution: {(x,y,z) / x 3y + 4z = 2
Give it a try!
1
3 x 2 y
2z 4
6 x
y 3z 2