Elimination To Solve This System Of Equations

Can u help me solve this?

17x + 8y = -4
-8y - 2x = 9

17x + 8y = -4
-2x - 8y = 9
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15x = 5
x = 1/3

-8y - 2(1/3) = 9
-8y - 2/3 = 9
-8y = 29/3
y = -29/24

rewrite so it looks like:
17x+8y=-4
-2x - 8y =9
----------------
15x +0= 5
now solve for x.after finding x sub x in either of the Original equation to find y