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Exercise 1634Linear algebra › DeterminantsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Cramer's rule for a 3×3 system

#Cramer's rule#3x3 determinant#linear system

Statement

Solve using Cramer's rule:
{x+y+z=62x−y+z=3x+2y−z=2\begin{cases} x + y + z = 6 \\ 2x - y + z = 3 \\ x + 2y - z = 2 \end{cases}

Hint

Compute four 3×33\times3 determinants.

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Solution

Determinant of AA.
det⁡A=∣1112−1112−1∣=1(1−2)−1(−2−1)+1(4+1)=−1+3+5=7.\det A = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 2 & -1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & -1 \end{vmatrix} = 1(1-2)-1(-2-1)+1(4+1)=-1+3+5=7.

Determinant A1A_1 (replace column 1 by B=(6,3,2)TB=(6,3,2)^T):
det⁡A1=∣6113−1122−1∣=6(1−2)−1(−3−2)+1(6+2)=−6+5+8=7.\det A_1 = \begin{vmatrix} 6 & 1 & 1 \\ 3 & -1 & 1 \\ 2 & 2 & -1 \end{vmatrix} = 6(1-2)-1(-3-2)+1(6+2)=-6+5+8=7.

Determinant A2A_2 (replace column 2 by BB):
det⁡A2=∣16123112−1∣=1(−3−2)−6(−2−1)+1(4−3)=−5+18+1=14.\det A_2 = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 6 & 1 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & -1 \end{vmatrix} = 1(-3-2)-6(-2-1)+1(4-3)=-5+18+1=14.

Determinant A3A_3 (replace column 3 by BB):
det⁡A3=∣1162−13122∣=1(−2−6)−1(4−3)+6(4+1)=−8−1+30=21.\det A_3 = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & 6 \\ 2 & -1 & 3 \\ 1 & 2 & 2 \end{vmatrix} = 1(-2-6)-1(4-3)+6(4+1)=-8-1+30=21.

Solution.
x=77=1,y=147=2,z=217=3.x=\frac77=1, \qquad y=\frac{14}{7}=2, \qquad z=\frac{21}{7}=3.

Verification. 1+2+3=61+2+3=6, 2−2+3=32-2+3=3, 1+4−3=21+4-3=2. Correct.