The seniors on the student council bought a total of 36 plants to use in landscaping the front of the school. They bought some azaleas that cost $6 each and some lilles that cost $5 each. They spent a total of $196 on these plants. How many azaleas did the students buy?

The students bought 16 azaleas plants.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that:

Total plants bought by student council = 36

Cost of each azaleas plant = $6

Cost of each lily plant = $5

Total amount spent = $196

Let,

x be the number of azaleas

y be the number of lilies

x+y = 36       Eqn 1

6x+5y=196     Eqn 2

Multiplying Eqn 1 by 6

6(x+y=36)

6x+6y=216      Eqn 3

Subtracting Eqn 2 from Eqn 3

(6x+6y)-(6x+5y)=216-196

6x+6y-6x-5y=20

y=20

Putting y=20 in Eqn 1

x+20=36

x=36-20

x=16

Hence,

The students bought 16 azaleas plants.