Question

Arianna is buying plants for her garden. She buys 15 flowering plants for $96. Pink flowering plants sell for $8, and purple

flowering plants sell for $5. How many pink flowering plants did Arianna buy?

Answer 1

Arianna bought 7 pink flowering plants.

Explanation:

Variable x = number of pink plants

Variable y = number of purple plants

Set up a system of equations:

x + y = 15

8x + 5y = 96

Isolate variable y (I will solve using substitution):

x + y = 15

y = 15 - x

Substitute the value of y in the second equation:

8x + 5(15 - x) = 96

Use distributive property:

8x + 75 - 5x = 96

Combine like terms:

3x + 75 = 96

Isolate variable x:

3x = 21

x = 7

Answer 2

7 pink flowers 8 purple flowers