Question

8 orchid plants and 12 lily plants sell for $362. 12 orchid and 8 lily plants sell for $388. How much does the lily plant charge

Answer 1

$15.5

Explanation:

let a = price of one orchid plant

8 orchids would cost 8 x a = 8a

12 orchids would cost 12 x a = 12a

Let b = price of one lily plant

12 lilies would cost 12 x b = 12b

8 lilies would cost 8 x b = 8b

8a + 12b = 362 -- eqn 1

12a + 8b = 388 -- eqn 2

to solve, multiply equation 1 by 8 and equation 2 by 12

64a + 96b = 2896 equation 3

144a + 96b = 4656 equation 4

substract equation 4 from 3

80a = 1760

a = $22

Substitute for a in eqn 1 and solve for b

8(22) + 12b = 362

b = $15.5