The flower peddler has red flowers with five petals each and white flowers with eight petals each. He has a total of 11 flowers with a total of 76 petals. How many red flowers are there and how many white flowers?

1 answer

Let r = # red flowers and w = # of white flowers.

5r + 8w = 76

r + w = 11

r = 11 - w

Substitute 11-w for r in the first equation to find w. Put that value in the second equation to find r. Check by putting both values in the first equation.