Multiply the entire bottom eqn by 3 to get -3x + 9y = -15. Add the two eqns together to cancel the x's and you get 11y = -11 Solve for y to get y = -1 Pick one of the two original eqns and plug y back in: -x + 3(-1) = -5; simplify: -x -3 = -5 -x = -2 x = 2