Lesson 4: Linear Programming
_________________________ – the inequalities limiting the problem at hand.
____________________________________________ – a method for finding a minimum
or maximum value of some quantity, given a set of constraints.
Vocabulary
_____________________________________ − the shaded polygonal area created
by the intersection of the graphs of inequalities. It is the location where every
constraint is met or satisfied.
_______________________________________ − a function in two variables f(x,y) that
is the objective to maximize or minimize, such as profit, etc.
_____________________________ − a function where no maximum value exists.
The shaded regions of the constraints do not form a closed figure.
Property – Vertex Principle of Linear Programming
If there is a maximum or a minimum value of the linear objective function,
it occurs at one or more vertices of the feasible region.
Sketching a Feasible Region
1. Graph each inequality on a coordinate axes system.
2. Find the feasible region by shading correctly.
3. Determine the vertices of the feasible region (polygon) that are formed.
4. Evaluate each coordinate in the objective quantity.
5. Determine the maximum (highest value) and the minimum (lowest value)
by using substitution.
EX #1: Sketch the feasible region.
𝑥𝑥 ≥ 3
𝑦𝑦 ≥ 2
𝑦𝑦 ≤ 7
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 10
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Testing Vertices
You can solve a problem using linear programming by testing all the vertices of the
feasible region in the objective function.
EX #2: Constraints:
𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ≤ 9
𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 3
𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑦𝑦 ≥ 1
What point in the feasible region maximizes P
for the objective function: 𝑃𝑃 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦?
Maximum and Minimum Values
EX #3: Constraints:
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 8
2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 10
𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑦𝑦 ≥ 0
Graph the system of constraints. Name all vertices.
Then find the values of x and y that maximizes the
objective function. 𝑁𝑁 = 100𝑥𝑥 + 40𝑦𝑦
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Using Linear Programming
EX #4: A baker earns 15¢ profit per glazed doughnut g, and 40¢ profit per jelly doughnut
j. If a customer wants to buy no more than a dozen doughnuts and wants to try
at least one of each kind, what is the maximum profit the baker can earn?
EX #5: Josh has 40 minutes to complete a government exam. There are 12 multiple-
choice questions worth 5 points each. There are also 5 short-answer questions
worth 8 points each. It takes about 2 minutes for Josh to answer the multiple-
choice questions m and about 8 minutes to complete the short-answer questions
s. Josh is trying to figure out how many of each type of question he should answer
to maximize his score.
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EX 6: A small company has five 3-ton trucks and four 5-ton trucks for hauling gravel.
Only 7 crews are available at any one time to operate the trucks. How many of
each kind of truck should be used to haul the maximum amount of gravel per trip?
Let x = the number of 3-ton trucks used
Let y = the number of 5-ton trucks used
Then the objective quantity for the number of tons of gravel hauled per trip is:
𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑦𝑦
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