JAMB 1988 · UME · Q21

Given that $3x - 5y - 3 = 0$ and $2y - 6x + 5 = 0$ , the value of $(x, y)$ is

Worked solution (try it first)

Write both in standard form: $3x - 5y = 3$ and $-6x + 2y = -5$ .
Double the first so the $x$ terms cancel: $6x - 10y = 6$ .
Add the second: $-8y = 1$ , so $y = -\frac18$ .
Put this into $3x - 5y = 3$ : $3x + \frac58 = 3$ , so $3x = \frac{19}{8}$ and $x = \frac{19}{24}$ .
So $(x, y) = \left(\frac{19}{24}, -\frac18\right)$ , option D.