119k views
1 vote
What is the solution to this system of equations?

3x - y + 4z = -10

-x + y + 2z = 6
2x - y + z = -8

What is the solution to this system of equations? 3x - y + 4z = -10 -x + y + 2z = 6 2x-example-1
User NoGray
by
3.9k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Since this is multiple choice ...

• check if B is correct:

x = 0, y = 4, z = 1 ⇒ 3x - y + 4z = -4 + 4 = 0 ≠ -10

(it's not)

• check if C is correct:

x = -2, y = 4, z = 0

⇒ 3x - y + 4z = -6 - 4 + 0 = -10

⇒ 3x - y + 4z = 2 + 4 + 0 = 6

⇒ 3x - y + 4z = -4 - 4 + 0 = -8

While this solution does satisfy the system, it can still have infinitely many other solutions that would work.

• check if D is correct:

Eliminate one of the variables from each equation. For instance,

(3x - y + 4z) + (-x + y + 2z) = -10 + 6

2x + 6z = -4

x + 3z = -2

and

(2x - y + z) + (-x + y + 2z) = -8 + 6

x + 3z = -2

but now it's impossible to eliminate one of the variables.

Therefore there are infinitely many solutions to the system [D].

User Aerion
by
3.0k points