Shouldn't this be: y=x^2+5x-3; y-x=2? From the second equation, y=x+2 and this value for y can replace y in the first equation: x+2=x^2+5x-3. Subtract x from sides: 2=x^2+4x-3 and subtract 2 from each side: 0=x^2+4x-5 or x^2+4x-5=0. The quadratic factorises: (x-1)(x+5)=0, so the solution is x=1 or -5.