Question 540958
<pre>
-2x - 8y = 22
-6x -  y = 20

To eliminate y multiply the second equation through by -8
to make the term -y into +8y so it will cancel with the
-8y term in the first:

-2x - 8y =  22
48x + 8y = -80


Now we add term by term:

-2x - 8y =   22
48x + 8y = -160
--------------
46x      = -138
       x = {{{(-138)/46}}}
       x = -3

Now you can either switch over to substitution or else
start over and eliminate x.  


I will start over and eliminate x

-2x - 8y = 22
-6x -  y = 20

To eliminate x multiply the first equation through by -3
to make the term -2x into +6x so it will cancel with the
-6x term in the second:

 6x + 24y = -66
-6x -   y =  20
---------------
      23y = -46
        y = {{{(-46)/23}}}
        y = -2

(x,y) = (-3,-2)

Edwin</pre>