GORDON COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES

EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Example:

A steel producer makes two types of steel: regular and special steel. A ton of regular steel
requires 2 hours in the open-hearth furnace and 3 hours in the soaking pit; a ton of special steel
requires 2 hours in the open-hearth furnace and 5 hours in the soaking pit. The open-hearth
furnace is available 8 hours per day and the soaking pit is available 15 hours per day. The profit
on a ton of regular steel is P4000 and P6000 for the special steel. Determine how many tons of
each type of steel should be made to maximize the profit, considering that demand on regular
steel is at least 1 ton.

Let:
x = regular steel
y = special steel

Product Open- Hearth Soaking Pit Contribution

Furnace to Profit
x = regular steel 2 3 P4000
y = special steel 2 5 P6000
≤8 ≤ 15

Formulate the Linear Program (LP)

Objective Function: This could be Maximize or Minimize

Maximize Z = 4000x +6000y the function is represented by Z

Subject to the following constraints: Constraints are the limitation of the resources

2x + 2y ≤ 8 this is for the Open Hearth Furnace

3x + 5y ≤ 15 this is for the Soaking Pit
x≥1 this is for the last sentence, indicating a demand on
regular steel is at least 1.
x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0 this is for the non-negativity of values for x and y

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

Associate Professor IV Page | 1
 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Solution using The Management Scientist®

Upon starting the software, this will be the opening window. Press Continue

The selection of module window will appear. Listed here are the modules included in the
software.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

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 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Select Ͼ1. Linear Programming module then click OK.

Click File –New..

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

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 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

This selection window will appear. The Problem Features.

Recalling our Objective Function, Maximize Z = 4000x +6000y, there are 2 decision variables
(x and y), then for the constraints:
2x + 2y ≤ 8,
3x + 5y ≤ 15,
x ≥ 1;
we have 3 constraints. Encode these data in the problem features window. Then click OK.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

Associate Professor IV Page | 4
 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

This window will appear now.

Recall our Linear Program:

Max Z = 4000x +6000y
Subj. to:
2x + 2y ≤ 8
3x + 5y ≤ 15
x≥1

Encode the numerical coefficients and equality symbol of this Linear Program in the window.
Use the keyboard’s arrow keys or the mouse pointer in encoding the coefficients in their
respective cells. Do not use the TAB key. It will automatically close the program.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

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 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

After encoding the numerical coefficients and the equality symbols, click Solution then Solve

Results will be revealed in this window.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

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 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Interpretation of the Software Result

The Optimal Solution or the Maximum
value for the objective function Z is
P19,000.

For the Variables, X1 = x, and then X2 = y.

The Regular Steel (x) must be produced
up to 2.5 tons and the Special Steel (y)
must be produced up to 1.5 tons.

The Dual Prices Column indicates the

possible improvement in the value of the
solution per-unit increase in the right hand
side of the constraint.

We can see that if we add an additional ton

in constraint 1, the optimal solution of
P19,000 will be increased to
P19,000+P500=P19,500.

Likewise, if we add an additional ton in

constraint 2, the optimal solution of P19,000
will be increased to
P19,000+P1,000=P20,000.

Slack/Surplus column states the

UNUSED CAPACITY.

We can see that constraint 3 have 1.5

tons of unused material.

The Right Hand Side Ranges tells that the dual price
will still applicable for the given range.
For the Objective Coefficient Ranges, variable x 1
For constraint 1, the dual price is P500; the current
has a current profit of P4000 has the following
value is 8, but can be increased up to 10 tons and
range of optimality for c 1(regular steel):
may be decreased to 6.8 tons.
3600≤c1≤6000.

For constraint 2, the dual price is P1000; the current

For the Objective Coefficient Ranges, variable x 2
value is 15, but can be increased up to 18 tons and
has a current profit of P6000 has the following
may be decreased to 12 tons.
range of optimality for c 2(special steel):
4000≤c2≤6667.
Lastly, for constraint 3, the dual price is zero with its
current value of 1 ton up to 2.5 tons.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

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 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Exercises

1. Embassy Motorcycles (EM) manufacturers two lightweight motorcycles designed for easy
handling and safety. The EZ-Rider model has a new engine and a low profile that make it
easy to balance. The Lady-Sport model is slightly larger, uses a more traditional engine, and
is specifically designed to appeal to women riders. Embassy produces the engines for both
models at its Des Moines, Iowa, plant. Each EZ-Rider engine requires 6 hours of
manufacturing time and each Lady-Sport engine requires 3 hours of manufacturing time. The
Des Moines plant has 2100 hours of engine manufacturing time available for the next
production period. Embassy’s motorcycle frame supplier can supply as many EZ-Rider
frames as needed. However, the Lady-Sport frame is more complex and the supplier can only
provide up to 280 Lady-Sport frames for the next production period. Final assembly and
testing requires 2 hours for each EZ-Rider model and 2.5 hours for each Lady-Sport model. A
maximum of 1000 hours of assembly and testing time are available for the next production
period. The company’s accounting department projects a profit contribution of $2400 for
each EZ-Rider produced and $1800 for each Lady-Sport produced.

a. Formulate a linear programming model that can be used to determine the number of
units of each model that should be produced in order to maximize the total
contribution to profit.
b. What is the optimal solution?
c. Which constraints are binding?

2. Kelson Sporting Equipment, Inc., makes two different types of baseball gloves: a regular
model and a catcher’s model. The firm has 900 hours of production time available in its
cutting and sewing department, 300 hours available in its finishing department, and 100 hours
available in its packaging and shipping department. The production time requirements and the
profit contribution per glove are given in the following table:

Assuming that the company is interested in maximizing the total profit contribution, answer
the following:

a. What is the linear programming model for this problem?

b. Find the optimal solution using the simplex method via the management scientist
software. How many gloves of each model should Kelson manufacture?
c. What is the total profit contribution Kelson can earn with the given production
quantities?
d. How many hours of production time will be scheduled in each department?
e. What is the slack time in each department?

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

Associate Professor IV Page | 8
 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

3. Expedition Outfitters manufactures a variety of specialty clothing for hiking, skiing, and
mountain climbing. The company has decided to begin production on two new parkas
designed for use in extremely cold weather: the Mount Everest Parka and the Rocky
Mountain Parka. Expedition’s manufacturing plant has 120 hours of cutting time and 120
hours of sewing time available for producing these two parkas. Each Mount Everest Parka
requires 30 minutes of cutting time and 45 minutes of sewing time, and each Rocky Mountain
Parka requires 20 minutes of cutting time and 15 minutes of sewing time. The labor and
material cost is $150 for each Mount Everest Parka and $50 for each Rocky Mountain Parka,
and the retail prices through the firm’s mail order catalog are $250 for the Mount Everest
Parka and $200 for the Rocky Mountain Parka. Because management believes that the Mount
Everest Parka is a unique coat that will enhance the image of the firm, management specified
that at least 20% of the total production must consist of this model. Assuming that Expedition
Outfitters can sell as many coats of each type as it can produce, how many units of each
model should it manufacture to maximize the total profit contribution?

4. Bluegrass Farms, located in Lexington, Kentucky, has been experimenting with a special diet
for its racehorses. The feed components available for the diet are a standard horse feed
product, an enriched oat product, and a new vitamin and mineral feed additive. The
nutritional values in units per pound and the costsfor the three feed components are
summarized in Table 8.2; for example, each pound of the standard feed component contains
0.8 units of ingredient A, 1 unit of ingredient B, and 0.1 units of ingredient C. The minimum
daily diet requirements for each horse are 3 units of ingredient A, 6 units of ingredient B, and
4 units of ingredient C. In addition, to control the weight of the horses, the total daily feed for
a horse should not exceed 6 pounds. Bluegrass Farms would like to determine the minimum-
cost mix that will satisfy the daily diet requirements.

5. Industrial Designs has been awarded a contract to design a label for a new wine produced by
Lake View Winery. The company estimates that 150 hours will be required to complete the
project. The firm’s three graphic designers available for assignment to this project are Lisa, a
senior designer and team leader; David, a senior designer; and Sarah, a junior designer.
Because Lisa has worked on several projects for Lake View Winery, management specified
that Lisa must be assigned at least 40% of the total number of hours assigned to the two
senior designers. To provide label-designing experience for Sarah, Sarah must be assigned at
least 15% of the total project time. However, the number of hours assigned to Sarah must not
exceed 25% of the total number of hours assigned to the two seniordesigners. Due to other

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

Associate Professor IV Page | 9
 GORDON COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SCIENCES
EDU MATH 12 - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
BSED MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

project commitments, Lisa has a maximum of 50 hours available to work on this project.
Hourly wage rates are $30 for Lisa, $25 for David, and $18 for Sarah.
a. Formulate a linear program that can be used to determine the number of hours each
graphic designer should be assigned to the project in order to minimize total cost.
b. How many hours should each graphic designer be assigned to the project? What is
the total cost?
c. Suppose Lisa could be assigned more than 50 hours. What effect would this have on
the optimal solution? Explain.
d. If Sarah were not required to work a minimum number of hours on this project,
would the optimal solution change? Explain.

Prepared by: Ediric D. Gadia, LPT, PhD, FRIEdr

Associate Professor IV Page | 10