En Sample ExamQuestions1
En Sample ExamQuestions1
The set of feasible solutions for this problem, identified with the LP2D software, is
reproduced in the figure hereafter.
a) In the figure above, starting from the feasible solution at (0, 0), indicate which are the
points obtained during the different iterations of the simplex algorithm when the
criterion used to choose the variable entering the basis is to take the one that produces
the greatest increase in the objective function. Name these points A, B, C, etc., in the
order in which they are visited by the algorithm.
Answer: At (0,0), the algorithm selects the variable that produces the greatest increase in
the objective function. Looking at the coefficients, we determine that the algorithm first
1
moves toward x1 variable direction and visits point A. The algorithm moves alphabetically
as shown in the figure until the optimal solution at F is found.
b) Graphically identify the optimal solution. Write the system of equations needed to
calculate exactly the coordinates of this optimum. Compute the value of the objective
function at this optimum.
Answer: Considering the isoprofit line and the improving direction, the optimal solution
is at point F, where Constraints 5 and 6 are tight. Thus, x2 = 19/2 and x1 = 18. So, the
objective function value is 81.5.
Clearly, (x4, x5, x6) gives us a feasible basis, except for the last row. We then do the
required elementary row operations to make sure that the coefficients in last row for x4, x5
and x6 are zero. We then get:
2
The feasible basis is given above. The corresponding solution is:
Answer: Since all coefficients in the last row (the reduced costs) in the final tableau
above are nonpositive, there is no means to increase the value of z by increasing the value
of a non-basic variable. For this reason, we are at the optimum!
b) Perform one iteration of the simplex algorithm on this problem (the primal!) using the
rule of the greatest coefficient to select the variable entering the basis.
3
Answer: Writing the canonical form gives:
We also modify the objective function and change it as the minimization of the sum of
artificial variables.
min a1 + a2 + a3 = – max –( a1 + a2 + a3).
Using 2nd, 3rd and 4th constraints, we obtain the following:
a1 + a2 + a3 = 7-x1 – x3 + s2 + 6 – x2 – 3x3 – 4x'4+4x''4+8-x2-6x'4+6x''4+s3
= 21 – x1 – 2x2 – 4x3 – 10x'4 + 10x''4 + s2 + s3.
So we maximize w = – (21 – x1 – 2x2 – 4x3 – 10x'4 + 10x''4 + s2 + s3).
which can be written as
w – x1 – 2x2 – 4x3 – 10x'4 + 10x''4 + s2 + s3 = –21.
We then get the following tableau:
Basic
x1 x2 x3 x'4 x''4 s1 s2 s3 a1 a2 a3 RHS
Var
s1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
a1 1 0 1 0 0 0 –1 0 1 0 0 7
a2 0 1 3 4 –4 0 0 0 0 1 0 6
a3 0 1 0 6 –6 0 0 –1 0 0 1 8
w –1 –2 –4 –10 10 0 1 1 0 0 0 –21
The greatest coefficient is x'4, and the ratio test gives min{6/4, 8/6} = 8/6, therefore the
leaving variable is a3. We then delete the last column and the new tableau is the following:
4
Basic
x1 x2 x3 x'4 x''4 s1 s2 s3 a1 a2 RHS
Var
s1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
a1 1 0 1 0 0 0 –1 0 1 0 7
a2 0 1/3 3 0 0 0 0 2/3 0 1 2/3
x'4 0 1/6 0 1 –1 0 0 –1/6 0 0 4/3
z –1 –1/3 –4 0 0 0 1 –2/3 0 0 –23/3