System of equations:
x - y = 3
x + 2y = 21
solving using substitution:
1. isolate one of the variables in one of the equations
x - y = 3
x = 3 + y
2. substitute 3 + y into the other equation
3 + y + 2y = 21
3. simplify
3 + 3y = 21
3y = 18
y = 6
4. substitute 6 back into one of the equations and solve for x
x - 6 = 3
x = 9