Solve by the linear combination method (with or without multiplication)

2x+3y = - 17, 5x+2y = - 4

2x+3y = - 17

5x+2y = - 4

You must cancel either the x or y out to solve so i'm going to cancel the x.

-5 (2x+3y = - 17)

2 (5x+2y = - 4)

This simplifies to:

-15x - 15y=85

15x+4y = - 8

The - 15x and 15x cancel out leaving you:

-15y=85

4y = - 8

You add them top numbers by the bottom and get:

-11y=77

Then divide by - 11 to get y by its self.

y = - 7

Now that you know what y is just plug it in to either original problem. I will use the second one.

5x + 2 (-7) = - 4

5x - 14 = - 4

5x = 10

x = 2

So the answer is (2,-7) or x=2 and y=-7