\(a,\dfrac{x}{7}=\dfrac{y}{3}=\dfrac{x-y}{7-3}=\dfrac{24}{4}=6\\ \Rightarrow x=6.7=42;y=6.3=18\\ b,\dfrac{x-1}{2005}=\dfrac{3-y}{2006}=\dfrac{x-1+3-y}{2005+2006}=\dfrac{4011}{4011}=1\\ \Rightarrow x-1=2005\Rightarrow x=2006\\ 3-y=2006\Rightarrow y=-2003\)