Pearson Algebra 2 Common Core, 2011
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Pearson Algebra 2 Common Core, 2011 View details
5. Systems With Three Variables
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Exercise 10 Page 171

Can you manipulate the coefficients of any variable terms such that they could be eliminated?

(0,2,-3)

Practice makes perfect
The given system consists of equations of planes. Notice that the coefficient of x in the first equation is the additive inverse of the coefficients of x in the second and the third equations; they will add to be 0. Let's use the Elimination Method to find a solution to this system. x-y-2z=4 & (I) - x+2y+z=1 & (II) - x+y-3z=11 & (III) We can start by adding the first equation to the second and the third equations to eliminate the x-terms.
x-y-2z=4 & (I) - x+2y+z=1 & (II) - x+y-3z=11 & (III)

(II), (III): Add (I)

x-y-2z=4 - x+2y+z+( x-y-2z)=1+( 4) - x+y-3z+( x-y-2z)=11+( 4)

(II), (III): Remove parentheses

x-y-2z=4 - x+2y+z+x-y-2z=1+4 - x+y-3z+x-y-2z=11+4

(II), (III): Add and subtract terms

x-y-2z=4 y-z=5 -5z=15
Having eliminated the y-variable from the second and the third equations, we can continue by solving for z in the third equation.
x-y-2z=4 y-z=5 -5z=15
x-y-2z=4 y-z=5 z=-3
Next, we will substitute the value of z into the second equation and solve for y.
x-y-2z=4 y-z=5 z=-3
x-y-2z=4 y-( -3)=5 z=-3
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(II):Solve for y
x-y-2z=4 y+3=5 z=-3
x-y-2z=4 y=2 z=-3
The value of y is 2. Let's substitute both values into the first equation to find x.
x-y-2z=4 y=2 z=-3
x- 2-2( -3)=4 y=2 z=-3
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(I): Solve for x
x-2+6=4 y=2 z=-3
x+4=4 y=2 z=-3
x=0 y=2 z=-3
The solution to the system is ( 0, 2, -3). This is the singular point at which all three planes intersect. Now, we can check our solution by substituting the values into the system.
x-y-2z=4 & (I) - x+2y+z=1 & (II) - x+y-3z=11 & (III)

(I), (II), (III): Substitute values

0- 2-2( -3)? =4 - 0+2( 2)+( -3)? =1 - 0+ 2-3( -3)? =11

(I), (II), (III): Multiply

0-2+6? =4 0+4+(-3)? =1 0+2+9? =11

(I), (II), (III): Add and subtract terms

4=4 âś“ 1=1 âś“ 11=11 âś“
Since the substitution of our answers into the given equations resulted in three identities, we know that our solution is correct.