Its a system of equation in three variables
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0.2x + 0.3y + 1.1z = 1.6

0.5x - 0.2y + 0.4z = 0.7

-1.2x + y - 0.72z = 0.9

Multiply 1st and 2nd equations by 10 on both sides and bottom equation by 100 on both sides.

2x + 3y + 11z = 16

5x - 2y + 4z = 7

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

multiply the 1st equation by 60 on both sides and the 2nd equation by 24 on both sides

120x + 180y + 660z = 960

120x - 48y + 96z = 168

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

add the 3rd equation to the 1st and 2nd equations

0x + 280y + 588z = 1050

0x + 52y + 24z = 258

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

a bit of factoring to check for reducing. . .

  588 = 2 * 2 * 3 * 7 * 7

  24 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3

  LCM = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 7 * 7 = 1176

  588 * 2 = 1176

  24 * 49 = 1176

back to our equations. . .

0x + 280y + 588z = 1050

0x + 52y + 24z = 258

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

multiply the 1st equation by 2 on both sides and the 2nd equation by -49 on both sides

0x + 560y + 1176z = 2100

0x - 2548 y - 1176z = -12642

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

add the 2nd equation to the 1st equation

0x - 1988y + 0z = -10542

0x - 2548y - 1176z = -12642

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

in the 1st equation, divide by -1988 on both sides

0x + y + 0z = 10542/1988

0x - 2548y - 1176z = -12642

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

another bit of factoring. . .

  10542 = 2 * 3 * 7 * 251

  1988 = 2 * 2 * 7 * 71

  GCF = 2 * 7 = 14

  10542 / 14 = 753

  1988 / 14 = 142

back to our equations. . .

0x + y + 0z = 10542/1988

0x - 2548y - 1176z = -12642

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

reduce the 1st equation, factoring out 14

0x + y + 0z = 753/142

0x - 2548y - 1176z = -12642

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

now we know that y = 753/142

but we also know that -2548y - 1176z = -12642, so let's plug in y

-2548(753/142) - 1176z = -12642

-1918644/142 - 1176z = 12642

-1918644/142 - 12642 = 1176z

-1918644/142 - 1795164/142 = 1176z

-3713808/142 = 1176z

-3713808/166992 = z

factoring. . .

  3713808 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 7 * 7 * 1579

  166992 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 *3 * 7 * 7 * 71

  factor out 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 7 * 7 = 2352

z = -1579/71

let's go back to this equation:

-120x + 100y - 72z = 90

let's plug in our y and z values

-120x + 100(753/142) - 72(-1579/71) = 90

multiply everything by 142 on both sides

-17040x + 7530 + 227376 = 12780

-17040x = -222126

x = 222126/17040

factoring. . .

  222126 = 2 * 3 * 37021

  17040 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 5 * 71

  factor out 2 * 3 = 6

  222126 / 6 = 37021

  17040 / 6 = 2840

x = 37021/2840

.

Answer:  x = 37021/2840, y = 753/142, z = -1579/71
by Level 13 User (103k points)

Don't let the decimals frighten you! Call the equations A, B and C. Eliminate y between B and C by multiplying B by 5 and adding to C: 2.5x-y+2z=3.5 added to -1.2x+y-0.72z=0.9 comes to 1.3x+1.28z=4.4 Eliminate y between A and B: 2A+3B: 0.4x+0.6y+2.2z=3.2 plus 1.5x-0.6y+1.2z=2.1 comes to 1.9x+3.4z=5.3. Now we have two equations with the same two variables, x and z. Unfortunately, the numbers are becoming cumbersome to deal with, which suggest that the original question may not be correctly transcribed. This will be revealed as we push on. We need to multiply the first of these 2-variable equations by 1.9 and the second by 1.3 to eliminate x: 2.47x+2.432z=8.36 and 2.47x+4.42z=6.89. Subtracting the former from the latter we get 1.988z=-1.47. Clearly z is an awkward number and can't be expressed exactly in decimals. So we need to use fractions and z=-105/142. From this we can find x by substituting this value for z in 1.9x+3.4z=5.3. So x=292/71. We go back to one of the original equations to find y.

Let's pick A. 0.3y=1.6-1.1z-0.2x, from which y=753/142. We need to substitute these three values in B and C to check the integrity of the solution. Let's pick B first. 0.5*292/71-0.2*753/142+0.4(-105/142)=0.7. That's OK. Now C. -1.2*292/71+753/142-0.72(-105/142)=0.9. That's OK, too, so the solution is x=4.113, y=5.303, z=-0.739 to 3 places of decimals.

By the way, A checks out, too.

If you're wondering how to convert decimals into fractions, all you have to remember is to divide an integer by the appropriate number of powers of 10. So 0.72 is 72/100=18/25, for example. When you convert fractions into decimals you may get a recurring decimal.

by Top Rated User (1.2m points)
edited by

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