Solve the simultaneous equations: 6x - 5y = 17, 3x + 8y = 10

First, you will need to make one of the variables x or y have the same number in front. To do this just multiply the equation by a constant which will give you lets say the x value in this equation with the same constant in both equations. The lowest common multiple of 6 and 3 is 6. So the first equation remains the same and the second equation is multiplied by 2 to result in 6x + 16y = 20. Now the equations can be subtracted by each other to get rid of the x value and allow you to solve for y. This will result in (6x - 6x) + (16y--5y) = (20-17) . Leaving you with 21y = 3.To get the value for y just divide 3 by 21 which will give you the fraction 1/7 for y and plug this into any of the original equations to solve for x, which will give you 6x -5*(1/7) = 17. Rearrange to give 6x = 124/7. x = (124/7)/6 = 62/21.