A stall was selling flowers. ¹₅ of the earnings are from the sale of 9 marigolds and 18 orchids. Of the rest of the earnings, ²₃ are from the sale of marigolds and ¹₃ are from the sale of orchids. Each orchid costs four times as much as each marigold. How many flowers were sold?

9 marigolds and 18 orchids	Rest of the earnings		Total earnings
1x3	4x3
	Roses	Carnations
	2x4	1x4
3	8	4	15

Fraction of the earnings left after the sale of 9 marigolds and 18 orchids
= 1 - ¹₅
= ⁴₅ 

The rest of the earnings is repeated. LCM of 4 and 3 is 12.

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

Cost of 9 marigolds = 9 x 1 u = 9 u
Cost of 18 orchids = 18 x 4 u = 72 u

Total cost of 9 marigolds and 18 orchids
= 9 u + 72 u
= 81 u

³₁₅ of the earnings → 81 u 
¹₁₅ of the earnings → 81 u ÷ 3 = 27 u 

⁸₁₅ of the earnings → 8 x 27 u = 216 u 

Number of marigolds sold that contributed to the rest of the earnings
= 216 u ÷ 1 u
= 216

⁴₁₅ of the earnings → 4 x 27 u = 108 u

Number of orchids sold that contributed to the rest of the earnings
= 108 u ÷ 4 u
= 27

Number of flowers sold
= 9 + 18 + 216 + 27
= 270

Answer(s): 270