Big M method: (points to Remember)

1. Introduce a slack variable in each <= case

2. Introduce a surplus variable and an Artificial Variable in each >= constraint
3. Introduce an Artificial Variable in each = constraint
4. For each artificial variable Ai, add M*Ai to the objective function

Remember ‘M’ is a very large number

Problem 20.53 (Anand Sharma)

An animal feed company must produce 200 kgs of a mixture consisting of ingredientsX1 and X2 daily. X1 costs
Rs.3 per kg and X2 Rs. 8 per kg. No more than 80 kgs of X1 can be used and at least 60 kgs of X2 must be used.
Find howmuch of each ingredient should be used if the company wants to minimise cost.

Objective Function:

Min Z = 3X1 + 8X2

s.t. X1 + X2 = 200

X1<= 80

X2>= 60

X1, X2>= 0

Converting the LPP in standard form, we have

Min Z = 3X1 + 8X2+ 0S1 + 0S2 + MA1 + MA2

s.t. X1 + X2+ 0S1+ 0S2+ A1+ 0A2= 200

X1 + 0X2 +S1 +0S2+ 0A1+ 0A2= 80

0X1+ X2+ 0S1– S2 +0A1 +A2= 60

X1, X2, S1, S2, A1, A2>= 0 (Non- negativity restriction)

Optimal Solution is:

X1 = 80, X2 = 120, Min Z = 1200