Question

solve the system by substitution.
8x+y=17
x+4y=37

Answer 1

All right, this is one of the more basic techniques in solving systems of linear equations, so pay attention ^_^

In the first equation, what I want you to do is try to get y alone on one side of the equals-sign... can you do that?

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

It's simple... for example, in this (easier) case...
x - y = 5

Suppose I want to get x alone on one side of the equation... well, no big deal, all I have to do is add +y to both sides to get....

x - y + y = 5 + y

-y + y cancels out on the left, leaving me with...
x = 5 + y

And now x is alone on the left side.

Now, can you get y alone on the left side in
8x + y = 17
?