1. Copy Equations:
18x + 6y = 144
6x + 10y = 144
2. Multiply one of the equations in a way that gets either the x or the y to cancel each other out when added together:
18x + 6y= 144 --> 18x + 6y = 144
-3(6x + 10y= 144) --> -18x -30y = -432
3. Add equations together:
18x + 6y= 144
-18x -30y= -432 --> -24y = -288
4. Solve for y by dividing both sides of the equation by -24:
-24y÷-24 = -288÷-24 --> y= 12
5. Plug the y back into one of the original equations:
6x + 10(12)= 144
6. Solve for x:
6x + 10(12)= 144 --> 6x + 120= 144
6x + 120= 144
-120 -120 --> 6x = 24
6x÷6 = 24÷6 --> x= 4
7. Collect answers:
x= 4
y= 12
8. (Optional) plug answers back into one of the original equations the check answer.
