3.

6 Solving Systems of Linear

Equations in Three Variables
Goals p Solve systems of linear equations in three variables.
p Use linear systems in three variables to model real-life
situations.

Your Notes
VOCABULARY

System of three linear equations

Solution of a system of three linear equations

THE LINEAR COMBINATION METHOD

(3-VARIABLE SYSTEMS)
Step 1 Use the linear combination method to rewrite the
linear system in three variables as a linear system in
variables.
Step 2 Solve the new linear system for both of its variables.
Step 3 Substitute the values found in into one of
the original equations and solve for the remaining
variable.
Note: If you obtain a equation, such as 0 ⫽ 1, in any
of the steps, then the system has . If you
obtain an , such as 0 ⫽ 0, then the system has
.

72 Algebra 2 Notetaking Guide • Chapter 3

Your Notes Example 1 Using the Linear Combination Method

Solve the system. 4x ⫹ 2y ⫺ z ⫽ 1 Equation 1

x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 14 Equation 2
⫺x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ ⫺1 Equation 3
1. Eliminate a variable in two of the original equations.
4x ⫹ 2y ⫺ z ⫽ 1 Add times the third
equation to the first.

New Equation 1

x ⫺ 3y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 14 Add the second and

⫺x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ ⫺1 third equations.
New Equation 2

2. Solve the new system of linear equations.

Add times new Equation 2
to new Equation 1.

y⫽ Solve for y.
z⫽ Substitute y in new Equation 1 or 2.
3. Substitute y and z into an original equation. Solve for x.
⫺x ⫹ y ⫹ z ⫽ ⫺1 Equation 3
Substitute for y and for z.
x⫽ Solve for x.
The solution is the ordered triple ( , , ). Check this
solution in each of the original equations.

Checkpoint Complete the following exercise.

1. Solve the system

x ⫹ 3y ⫺ 4z ⫽ ⫺3
⫺2x ⫹ 2y ⫹ z ⫽ 0
3x ⫺ 2y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 8

Lesson 3.6 • Algebra 2 Notetaking Guide 73

 Your Notes Example 2 Solving a System with Many Solutions

Solve the system. x ⫹ 2y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 4 Equation 1

2x ⫺ 2y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 8 Equation 2
2x ⫹ 2y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 8 Equation 3
Rewrite the linear system in three variables as a linear
system in two variables.
x ⫹ 2y ⫹ 2z ⫽ 4 Add the first equation
2x ⫺ 2y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 8 to the second.
New Equation 1

2x ⫺ 2y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 8 Add the second equation

2x ⫹ 2y ⫹ 4z ⫽ 8 to the third.
New Equation 2

The result is a system of linear equations in two variables.

New Equation 1
New Equation 2
Solve the new system by adding times the first equation
to times the second equation. This produces the
. So, the system has .
Describe the solution. Rewrite new Equation 1 to get
x⫽ . Substituting this into original equation 1
produces y ⫽ . So, any ordered triple of the form
( , , ) is a solution of the system. For instance,
( , , 2), ( , , 1), and ( , , 0) are all solutions.

Checkpoint Solve the system.

2. x ⫹ y ⫺ 2z ⫽ 3 3. x ⫹ 2y ⫺ 4z ⫽ 7
2x ⫹ 2y ⫺ 4z ⫽ 1 ⫺x ⫺ y ⫹ 2z ⫽ ⫺4
⫺x ⫺ 3y ⫹ z ⫽ 5 x ⫹ 4y ⫺ 8z ⫽ 13
Homework

74 Algebra 2 Notetaking Guide • Chapter 3