TITLE: Simultaneusly solving $2x \equiv 11 \pmod{15}$ and $3x \equiv 6 \pmod 8$
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Find the smallest positive integer $x$ that solves the following simultaneously.
Note: I haven't been taught the Chinese Remainder Theorem, and have had trouble trying to apply it.
$$
\begin{cases}
2x \equiv 11 \pmod{15}\\
3x \equiv 6 \pmod{8}
\end{cases}
$$
I tried solving each congruence individually. 
The inverse for the first is 8: $x \equiv 8\cdot11 \equiv 88 \equiv 13 \pmod{15}$.
The inverse for the second is 3: $x \equiv 3\cdot6 \equiv 18 \equiv 2 \pmod{8}$.
But I can't figure out how where to go from here.

REPLY [6 votes]: Let's proceed completely naively and see where it takes us.
The first congruence is equivalent to $x \equiv 13 \pmod{15}$. This is the same as $x = 13 + 15n$ for any integer $n$. Let's use this in the second congruence.
$$\begin{align}
3x &\equiv 6 \pmod 8 \\
3(13 + 15n) &\equiv 6 \pmod 8 \\
39 + 45n &\equiv 6 \pmod 8 \\
7 + 5n &\equiv 6 \pmod 8 \\
5n &\equiv 7 \pmod 8.
\end{align}$$
This lets you determine a solution for $n$. In particular, you'll find that $n \equiv 3 \pmod 8$, or rather $n = 3 + 8l$ for any integer $l$.
Going back, we see that $x = 13 + 15n = 13 + 15(3 + 8l) = 13 + 45 + 120l = 58 + 120l$, or rather that $x \equiv 58 \pmod{120}$. $\diamondsuit$