How do you solve and answer - x+y=-7

x+4y=-8 ... (x is the Variable)

Since the other person showed you elimination, I'll show you the substitution method.

-x+y=-7

x + 4y=-8

-x+y=-7

_+x__|+x_

y=-7+x

Now that you have the y equation, substitute it in for y in the other equation and solve by moving the x variables to one side and the numbers to the other:

x+4 (-7+x) = - 8

x-28+4x=-8

_+28__|+28_

5x=20

20/5 = 4

x=4