Subject Code Math 2 Intermediate Algebra

Module Code 4.0 Systems of Linear Equations

Lesson Code 4.4.1 Definition and Methods of Solving Systems of Linear Equations in
Three Variables
Time Frame 30 Minutes

TARGET
After this lesson, you should be able to
§ define systems of linear equations in three variables, and
§ solve systems of linear equations in three variables using elimination/substitution.

HOOK TA: 5 Minutes* ATA**:

WEIGHT OF OBJECTS
Determine the weight of each box.

𝒁
𝑿 𝒀 𝟏𝟎𝐤𝐠 𝑿 𝒁 𝒁 𝒀 𝒁 𝒁

Pan Balance Image: https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/41800/41848/balance_41848_sm.gif

The situation above involves three unknown weights (𝑋, 𝑌, and 𝑍). Can you model the situation using a set
of equations and then solve for the unknown weights?

In Lesson 4.2, you have learned how to solve systems of linear equations in two variables using the graphing
method, substitution method, and elimination method. These methods can also be extended to systems of
linear equations in three variables.

Answers to WEIGHT OF OBJECTS: weight of 𝐵𝑜𝑥 𝑋 = 𝟒𝒌𝒈; weight of 𝐵𝑜𝑥 𝑌 = 𝟔𝒌𝒈; weight of 𝐵𝑜𝑥 𝑍 = 𝟐𝒌𝒈

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 IGNITE TA: 25 Minutes* ATA**:

LINEAR EQUATION IN THREE VARIABLES

A linear equation in three variables is an equation that can be written in the form
𝑨𝑥 + 𝑩𝑦 + 𝑪𝑧 = 𝑫
where 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪, and 𝑫 are real numbers, and 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 are NOT ALL zero.

Example 1: Examples of Linear Equations in Three Variables

a. 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 5 c. 3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 8 e. 3𝑥 = 0
b. 4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 = −2 d. 2𝑥 − 𝑧 = 7 f. 3𝑦 + 2𝑧 = −6

• The solution to a linear equation in three variables is an ordered triple (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).

Example 2: Solution of a Linear Equation in Three Variables

Determine whether (2, −1, 1) and (1, 3, −2) are solutions of the equation 5𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 7.

Solution: Replace 𝑥 in the equation with the 𝑥-coordinate, y with the 𝑦-ccordinate and 𝑧 with the 𝑧-
coordinate.

5𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 7 5𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 7
? ?
5(2) + (−1) − 2(1) = 7 5(1) + (3) − 2(−2) = 7
? ?
10 − 1 − 2 = 7 5+3+4= 7
ü
7 = 7, 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 12 = 7, 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒

Thus, (2, −1, 1) is a solution of 5𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 7 and (1, 3, −2) is not.

• The position of a point in space can be expressed as an ordered triple (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).
• The graph of an equation of the form 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 = 𝐷, where 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 are not all zero, is a plane.

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 SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATION IN THREE VARIABLES

A system of linear equation in three variables 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 is a set of linear equations which
may be written in the form
𝑎% 𝑥 + 𝑏% 𝑦 + 𝑐% 𝑧 = 𝑑%
G𝑎& 𝑥 + 𝑏& 𝑦 + 𝑐& 𝑧 = 𝑑& ,
𝑎' 𝑥 + 𝑏' 𝑦 + 𝑐' 𝑧 = 𝑑'

where 𝑎% , 𝑎& , 𝑎' , 𝑏% , 𝑏& , 𝑏' , 𝑐% , 𝑐& , 𝑐' , 𝑑% , 𝑑& , and 𝑑' are real numbers.

𝑎% 𝑥 + 𝑏% 𝑦 + 𝑐% 𝑧 = 𝑑%
• The solution of a system of linear equation in three variables G𝑎& 𝑥 + 𝑏& 𝑦 + 𝑐& 𝑧 = 𝑑& , is an ordered triple
𝑎' 𝑥 + 𝑏' 𝑦 + 𝑐' 𝑧 = 𝑑'
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) that makes all the equations TRUE.
• Graphically, the solution which an ordered triple is the intersection of three planes in space.

TYPES OF SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS IN THREE VARIABLES

Consistent and Independent Consistent and Dependent
(One Solution) (Infinite Number of Solutions)

3 planes intersect at one common 3 planes intersect at all the points 3 planes coincide.
point. along a common line

Inconsistent
(No Solutions)
No point lies in all three planes

Planes intersect in Planes intersect in 3 2 planes coincide; third 3 planes are parallel.
2 parallel lines. parallel lines. is parallel.

• You can use the elimination and substitution methods to solve a system of three equations in three
variables by working with the equations in pairs.

Visualizing systems in three variables:

https://www.geogebra.org/m/PNUefxFh

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 SOLVING A SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN THREE VARIABLES
1. Eliminate one variable from two equations.
2. Repeat the process by eliminating the same variable from a different pair of
equations.
3. Solve the system of linear equations in two variables obtained from Step 1 and
Step 2.
Example 3: Solving a System Using Elimination
𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 4
Solve the system: G 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5
2𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 = 11
Solution: Label the equations with numbers.
1: 𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 4 Eliminate the variable for which the
process requires the fewest step.
2: 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5
3: 2𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 = 11
a. Take equations 2 and 3. Eliminate 𝑧. d. Substitute 𝑦 = −2 to equation 5 and solve for 𝑥.
Subtract the two equations. 𝑥 − (−𝟐) = 2

2: 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5 𝑥+2=2

3: 2𝑥 − 5𝑦 + 𝑧 = 11 𝑥+2−2=2−2
𝒙=𝟎
4: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −6 Subtract.
Type equation here.

b. Take equations 1 and 2. Eliminate 𝑧. e. Substitute 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 = −2 into one of the

original equations to solve for 𝑧. Use 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2.
Multiply equation 2 by 2 then add to equation 1.
3(𝟎) − 2(−𝟐) + 𝑧 = 5
1: 𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 4 0+4+𝑧 =5
2∙2: 6𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 10 4 + 𝑧 − 𝟒 = 5 − 𝟒
7𝑥 − 7𝑦 = 14 Add. 𝒛=𝟏
Divide the obtained equation by 7.
(the 𝐺𝐶𝐹 of the coefficients). f. Write the solution as an ordered triple.

5: 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2
The solution is (𝟎, −𝟐, 𝟏).
c. Write the two new equations 4 and 5 as a system.
Eliminate 𝑥.
Subtract the two equations.

4: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −6 In step (d), the value of 𝑦 is substituted

into equation 5. Could the value of 𝑦 be
5: 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2 substituted into another equation to solve
4𝑦 = −8 Subtract. for 𝑥?
!" #$ Answer: Yes; it could be substituted into
= equation 4.
! !
𝒚 = −𝟐

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Example 4: Solving a System Using Substitution
2𝑦 − 𝑧 = 5
Solve the system: G 𝑥 + 3𝑧 = 0
4𝑥 + 𝑦 = 14
Solution: Label the equations with numbers.
Substitution is the best method to use
1: 2𝑦 − 𝑧 = 5 when you can easily solve one of the
2: 𝑥 + 3𝑧 = 0 equations for a single variable.

3: 4𝑥 + 𝑦 = 14
a. Take equation 2. Solve for 𝑥. d. Substitute 𝑧 = −1 to equation 1 and solve for 𝑦.

2: 𝑥 + 3𝑧 = 0 2𝑦 − (−𝟏) = 5
𝑥 + 3𝑧 − 3𝑧 = 0 − 3𝑧 2𝑦 + 1 = 5
4: 𝑥 = −3𝑧 2𝑦 + 1 − 1 = 5 − 1
2𝑦 = 4
b. Substitute 𝑥 = −3𝑧 in equation 3 .
2𝑦 4
=
2 2
4(−𝟑𝒛) + 𝑦 = 14
𝒚 = 𝟐
−12𝑧 + 𝑦 = 14
𝑦 − 12𝑧 = 14
e. Substitute 𝑧 = −1 to equation 2 and solve for 𝑥.
𝑦 − 12𝑧 + 12𝑧 = 14 + 12𝑧
𝑥 + 3(−𝟏) = 0
5: 𝑦 = 14 + 12𝑧
𝑥−3=0
c. Substitute 𝑦 = 14 + 12𝑧 in equation 1. 𝑥−3+3=0+3
𝒙=𝟑
2(𝟏𝟒 + 𝟏𝟐𝒛) − 𝑧 = 5
28 + 24𝑧 − 𝑧 = 5
28 + 23𝑧 = 5
f. Write the solution as an ordered triple.
28 + 23𝑧 − 28 = 5 − 28
23𝑧 = −23 The solution is (𝟑, 𝟐, −𝟏).
23𝑧 23
=−
23 23
𝒛 = −𝟏

• If a pair of equations in a system reduces to the contradiction 𝟎 = 𝒄, where 𝑐 ≠ 0, then the

system is inconsistent and there is NO SOLUTION.

• If a pair of equations in a system reduces to the true equation 𝟎 = 𝟎, (but no pair reduces to
0 = 𝑐, 𝑐 ≠ 0), then the system is dependent and there are an INFINITE NUMBER OF
SOLUTIONS.

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Example 5:
𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 4
Solve the system: G 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 6
−2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2
Solution: Label the equations with numbers.
Substitution is the best method to use
1: 𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 4 when you can easily solve one of the
2: 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 6 equations for a single variable.

3: −2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2

a. Take equations 2 and 3 .

2: 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 6
3: −2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2
0 = 8 Add. The result is a contradiction.

There is NO SOLUTION.

REFERENCES:
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. (Based on Ramos, E.G and N. Apolinario (n.d.) Science LINKS.
Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.)

Charles, Randall I.; Hall, Basia; Kennedy, Dan; Bellman, Allan E.; Bragg, Sadoe Chavis; Handlin, William
G.; Murphy, Stuart J.; Wiggins, Grant. (2015). Algebra 2 Common Core. New Jersey: Pearson
Education, Inc.
Hall, B. C., & Fabricant, M. (1993). Algebra 2 with Trigonometry. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

-End-

Prepared by: Ronald M. Navalta Reviewed by: Arvin Fajardo

Position: Special Science Teacher III Position: Special Science Teacher III
Campus: PSHS-Cagayan Valley Campus Campus: PSHS-Central Luzon Campus

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