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What is the value of z in the system shown below?
x+y+z=6
x + 2y = 5
2x+z = 5

User Ymyzk
by
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1 Answer

18 votes
18 votes

Answer: z = 3

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Step-by-step explanation:

I'll use the substitution method to solve this system of equations.

Solve the third equation for z

2x+z = 5

z = 5-2x

Then solve the second equation for y

x+2y = 5

2y = 5-x

y = (5-x)/2

y = -0.5x+2.5

Plug each of these into the first equation so we can solve for x.

x+y+z = 6

x+(-0.5x+2.5)+(5-2x) = 6

-1.5x+7.5 = 6

-1.5x = 6-7.5

-1.5x = -1.5

x = (-1.5)/(-1.5)

x = 1

Let's use this to find y and z

y = -0.5x+2.5 = -0.5*1+2.5 = 2

z = 5-2x = 5-2*1 = 3

Therefore,

x = 1

y = 2

z = 3

Or we can write it like this: (x,y,z) = (1,2,3)

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Check:

Plug these values into equation 1 and simplify

x+y+z = 6

1+2+3 = 6

6 = 6

We get the same thing on both sides.

This confirms equation 1.

Repeat for equation 2.

x+2y = 5

1+2*2 = 5

1+4 = 5

5 = 5

This confirms equation 2.

Lastly, plug those values into equation 3

2x+z = 5

2*1+3 = 5

2+3 = 5

5 = 5

Equation 3 is confirmed.

All three equations are true when (x,y,z) = (1,2,3). The solution is fully confirmed.

User Muhammad Faraz Ali
by
2.7k points