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Standard Level

4.07 Solving linear systems in three unknowns

Worksheet
Linear systems of three unknowns
1

Determine whether each ordered triple is a solution of the corresponding system of equations:

a

Triple: \left( - 9 , - 7 , 4\right)

System:

\begin{aligned}-2x+5y-3z&=-29\\-3x+y+4z&=38\\-4x+2y+3z&=34\end{aligned}

b

Triple: \left(1, - 5 , - 3 \right)

System:

\begin{aligned}4x-5y+3z&=20\\4x-5y-z&=32\\-x+2y-5z&=4\end{aligned}

c

Triple: \left(\dfrac{3}{4}, \dfrac{4}{5}, \dfrac{2}{5}\right)

System:

\begin{aligned}5x+y+3z&=\dfrac{23}{4}\\4x+3y+5z&=\dfrac{37}{5}\\2x-4y+3z&=-\dfrac{1}{2}\end{aligned}

d

Triple: \left(1.1, 0.3, 1.7\right)

System:

\begin{aligned}3x+y-5z&=-5.9\\5x+y-4z&=-1\\5x-2y-4z&=-1.9\end{aligned}

e

Triple: \left( - 8 , - 1 , 2\right)

System:

\begin{aligned}x+5y+4z&=-8\\4x-y+3z&=-25\\2y-z&=-4\end{aligned}

f

Triple: \left( - 6 , 3, - 9 \right)

System:

\begin{aligned}x+5y+3z&=-18\\5x+y-3z&=-3\\5x+3y-z&=-12\end{aligned}

2

Solve the following systems of equations:

a
\begin{aligned}x-5y+z&=-16\\2x+5y+2z&=13\\-x-5y-3z&=-10\end{aligned}
b

\begin{aligned}x+y&=6 \\ y+z&=13 \\ x+z&=9 \end{aligned}

c
\begin{aligned}x+3y&=-11\\5y+4z&=-33\\x+2z&=0\end{aligned}
d
\begin{aligned}5x+2y+4z&=-13\\6y+4z&=22\\5x-2y+3z&=-31\end{aligned}
e

\begin{aligned} 3x+2y-z &= -9 \\ 6x-4y+z &= -20 \\ 3x+6y+4z&=5 \end{aligned}

f
\begin{aligned}3x+3y-z&=6\\2x-2y+z&=3\\2x+5y-z&=2\end{aligned}
g
\begin{aligned}3x+2y-2z&=4\\y+2z&=5\\3x-y-2z&=7\end{aligned}
h
\begin{aligned}x&=8(y-z)\\2z&=9(y-x)\\x+z&=2y-3\end{aligned}
i
\begin{aligned}x&=2(y-z)\\y&=4(z-x)\\x+y&=z+6\end{aligned}
j
\begin{aligned}9x+5y-2z&=25\\x+4y-7z&=30\\3x-6y+8z&=-33\end{aligned}
3

How many solutions do each of the following systems of equations have?

a

\begin{aligned}3x+4y+2z&=-1\\5x-2y-3z&=-23\\-3x-4y-2z&=1\end{aligned}

b

\begin{aligned}6x+7y-4z&=-13\\12x+14y-8z&=-24\\3x-2y+5z&=17\end{aligned}

4

Consider the system:

\text{Equation 1}\text{Equation 2}
2 x - 3 y - z = - 19y - z = - 1

Let z = t be arbitrary.

a

Solve Equation 2 for y with respect to t.

b

Using your result from part a, solve Equation 1 for x with respect to t.

c

Hence, write down the solution to the system with respect to the arbitrary variable t.

5

Consider the system:

\text{Equation 1}\text{Equation 2}
4 x +5y - z = 11x+y +2 z = 9

Let z = t be arbitrary.

a

Solve Equation 2 for y with respect to x and t.

b

Solve Equation 1 for x with respect to t.

c

Hence, solve for y with respect to t.

d

Hence, write down the solution to the system with respect to the arbitrary variable t.

6

Consider the system:

\text{Equation 1}\text{Equation 2}
x-3y +3 z = 6x-2y +4z = 5

Let z = t be arbitrary.

a

Solve Equation 1 for x with respect to y and t.

b

Solve Equation 2 for y with respect to t.

c

Hence, solve for x with respect to t.

d

Hence, write down the solution to the system with respect to the arbitrary variable t.

7

Consider the following system of three equations:

\begin{aligned}3x+5y+8z&=136\\27x+45y+72z&=872\\x+y+z&=25\end{aligned}

a

Does the system have one solution, infinite solution or no solution?

b

Is the system consistent or incosistent?

8

Consider the following system of 3 equations:

\begin{aligned}8x+5y+8z&=97\\6x+y+4z&=45\\x+y+z&=14\end{aligned}

a

Solve the system.

b

Is the system independent or dependent?

9

Consider the following system of 3 equations:

\begin{aligned}7x+3y+3z&=3.2\\8x+5y+3z&=4.4\\4x+9y+4z&=5.7\end{aligned}

a

Solve the system.

b

Is the system consistent or incosistent?

10

Find a system of three linear equations in three variables that has \left( - 4 , - 2 , -1\right) as a solution.

11

Solve the following systems of equations:

a
\begin{aligned}\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z}&=13\\\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}&=9 \\\dfrac{1}{x}-\dfrac{1}{z}&=2 \end{aligned}
b
\begin{aligned}\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z}&=11\\\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z}&=8 \\\dfrac{1}{x}-\dfrac{1}{y}&=-3\end{aligned}
12

For each of the following system of 3 equations:

i

Solve the system.

ii

Determine whether the system is consistent or inconsistent.

iii

Determine whether the system is dependent or independent.

a
\begin{aligned}x-5z&=-8\\y+4z&=16\\6y+2z&=30\end{aligned}
b
\begin{aligned}x+3z&=22\\y+8z&=49\\8z&=48\end{aligned}
c
\begin{aligned}x+5y-7z&=-8\\y+6z&=56\\6y+9z&=120\end{aligned}
d
\begin{aligned}9x+9y+6z&=303\\16x+18y+10z&=536\\x+y+z&=39\end{aligned}
e
\begin{aligned}5x+4z&=42\\5x+9y+&=37\\6y+7z&=74\end{aligned}
f
\begin{aligned}9x+7y&=180\\x+y+5z&=27\\4x+6y+4z&=110\end{aligned}
g
\begin{aligned}9x+7y+3z&=151\\8x+y+9z&=142\\x+y+z&=23\end{aligned}
h
\begin{aligned}8x+9y+2z&=51\\4x+8y+9z&=101\\8x+4y+9z&=109\end{aligned}
i
\begin{aligned}3x+7y&=4.4\\x+y+6z&=3.8\\5x+6y+8z&=8.5\end{aligned}
Applications
13

Consider the equation: A x + B y + C z = 12.

a

One solution to this equation is \left(1, \dfrac{3}{4}, 3\right). Substitute these values into the equation, to give an equation in terms of A, B, and C.

b

A second solution to the equation is \left(\dfrac{4}{3}, 1, 2\right). Substitute these values into the equation, to give an equation in terms of A, B, and C.

c

A third solution to the equation is \left(2, 1, 1\right). Substitute these values into the equation, to give an equation in terms of A, B, and C.

d

Solve your three equations for A, B, and C.

14

The fraction \dfrac{1}{24} can be written as the following sum:

\dfrac{1}{24} = \dfrac{x}{8} + \dfrac{y}{4} + \dfrac{z}{3}

where the numbers x, y, and z are solutions of:

\begin{aligned}x +y+ z&=1------\text{ equation 1}\\2x-y+z&=0------\text{ equation 2}\\-x+2y+2z&=-1-----\text{ equation 3}\end{aligned}
a

Solve this system of equations for x, \, y, and z.

b

Use your values of x, \, y, and z to determine whether the following equation is true or false:

\dfrac{1}{24} = \dfrac{x}{8} + \dfrac{y}{4} + \dfrac{z}{3}
15

Consider the quadratic with equation y = a x^{2} + b x + c that passes through the points \left(1, 15\right), \, \left(2, 5\right) and \left(4, - 3 \right).

a

Set up a system of equations in the variables a, b and c using the points given.

b

Solve your equations for a, \, b, and c.

c

Write down the quadratic equation that passes through the points \left(1, 15\right), \left(2, 5\right) and \left(4, - 3 \right).

16

The equation of a circle can be written in the general form x^{2} + y^{2} + a x + b y + c = 0. The circle below passes through the points \left(2, - 4 \right), \left(5, 1\right) and \left(3, - 3 \right):

a

The general form of a circle given may be rearranged to the following form: \\ a x + b y + c = - \left( x^{2} + y^{2} \right). Use this form to set up a system of equations in the variables a, b and c from the given points.

b

Solve your equations for a, \, b, and c.

c

Write down the equation of the circle that passes through the points \left(2, - 4 \right), \left(5, 1\right) and \left(3, - 3 \right).

-10
-5
5
x
-5
5
10
y
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