A stall was selling flowers. ¹₅ of the earnings are from the sale of 7 marigolds and 12 orchids. Of the rest of the earnings, ²₅ are from the sale of marigolds and ³₅ are from the sale of orchids. Each orchid costs four times as much as each marigold. How many flowers were sold?

7 marigolds and 12 orchids	Rest of the earnings		Total earnings
1x5	4x5
	Roses	Carnations
	2x4	3x4
5	8	12	25

Fraction of the earnings left after the sale of 7 marigolds and 12 orchids
= 1 - ¹₅
= ⁴₅ 

The rest of the earnings is repeated. LCM of 4 and 5 is 20.

Cost of 1 marigold = 1 u
Cost of 1 orchid = 4 u

Cost of 7 marigolds = 7 x 1 u = 7 u
Cost of 12 orchids = 12 x 4 u = 48 u

Total cost of 7 marigolds and 12 orchids
= 7 u + 48 u
= 55 u

⁵₂₅ of the earnings → 55 u 
¹₂₅ of the earnings → 55 u ÷ 5 = 11 u 

⁸₂₅ of the earnings → 8 x 11 u = 88 u 

Number of marigolds sold that contributed to the rest of the earnings
= 88 u ÷ 1 u
= 88

¹²₂₅ of the earnings → 12 x 11 u = 132 u

Number of orchids sold that contributed to the rest of the earnings
= 132 u ÷ 4 u
= 33

Number of flowers sold
= 7 + 12 + 88 + 33
= 140

Answer(s): 140