-5x+3y-=8 THAN X=9-10Y

-5x+3y=8 THAN X=9-10Y
-5(9-10y)+3y=8
-45-50y+3y=8
-47y=8 +45
-47y=53
y=-53/47

x=9-10y
x=9 - (10 * (-53/47))
x=9 + 530/47
x= (423 + 530 )/47
x= 953/47

Get y by itself so add 5x to both sides. It would equal 3y=5x+8. Divide both sides by 3 and you get y=5/3x+8/3. Then for the other get y by itself. Subtract 9 from both sides so you get -10y=x-9. Divide both sides by -10 which would equal y=-1/10x+9. I hope that's what you were meaning :)

Best answer that i found on yahoo ok   set :   x= length of 2nd piece in cm  x- 3= length of 1st piece in cm  x-4= length of 3rd piece in cm  then since you know they all came from the 20 cm ribbon you add them together and set them equal to 20x+ x-3 +x-4 = 20  3x - 7= 20  3x= 27  x= 9  the shortest piece is the third piece which is x- 4  x-4  9-4 = 5  the length of the smallest piece is 5 cm.  the other lengths are  9 cm  6 cm