Answer
$(3, 2, -3)$
Work Step by Step
Label the original equations:
1. $x + 2y + z = 4$
2. $2x - y + 4z = -8$
3. $-3x + y - 2z = -1$
The first step is to choose two equations to work with where one variable can be eliminated. Let's choose equations $2$ and $3$. Modify the equations by multiplying them by a non-zero factor so that one variable is the same in both equations but differing in sign so that this variable can be eliminated when the two equations are added together. In this case, no modifications are needed:
2. $2x - y + 4z = -8$
3. $-3x + y - 2z = -1$
Add the equations. This will become equation $4$:
4. $-x + 2z = -9$
Now, choose another two equations and modify them. Modify these equations such that the $y$ variable can be eliminated. This modified equation will be equation $5$ and will be added to equation $4$ to try to eliminate another variable.
Use equations $1$ and $2$. Multiply equation $2$ by $2$ and leave equation $1$ as-is:
1. $x + 2y + z = 4$
2. $2(2x - y + 4z) = 2(-8)$
Distribute and multiply to simplify:
$x + 2y + z = 4$
$4x - 2y + 8z = -16$
Add the equations together. This will become equation $5$:
$5x + 9z = -12$
Set up a system of equations consisting of equations $4$ and $5$:
4. $-x + 2z = -9$
5. $5x + 9z = -12$
Modify these equations such that the $x$ variable in both equations are the same but differ in sign. Multiply equation $4$ by $5$ and leave equation $5$ as-is:
4. $5(-x + 2z) = 5(-9)$
5. $5x + 9z = -12$
Distribute and multiply to simplify:
$-5x + 10z = -45$
$5x + 9z = -12$
Add the two equations together:
$19z = -57$
Divide both sides by $19$ to solve for $z$:
$z = -3$
Substitute this value for $z$ into equation $4$ to solve for $x$:
$-x + 2(-3) = -9$
Multiply to simplify:
$-x - 6 = -9$
Add $6$ to each side of the equation to solve for $x$:
$-x = -3$
Divide both sides of the equation by $-1$ to solve for $x$:
$x = 3$
Substitute the values for $x$ and $z$ into one of the original equations to find $y$. Use equation $3$:
$-3(3) + y - 2(-3) = -1$
$-9 + y + 6 = -1$
$y - 3 = -1$
$y = 2$
The solution is $(3, 2, -3)$.
