You have two equations and two unknowns (a and b), so we can solve. We will substitute 5b for a into the second equation because the first equation told us that a = 5b. OK, so we can write the second equation as 5b + b = 216. Simplifying the left side: 6b = 216. Therefore, b = 216/6 = 36. Now that we know b = 36, we can solve for a. Let's use both equations to make sure we get the same answer: 1) a=(5)(36), so a=180. 2) a+36=216, so a=180. Yes!
a=180 and b=36
