UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MID-OF-COURSE ASSIGNMENT
Course Title: Mathematical Modelling and Operations Research
Course Code: ENG 401.1
Session: 2023/2024/2025 Page 1 of 3
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Attempt all questions, as they all carry equal marks.
2. Some questions are attached to the student’s matriculation number, e.g., the last
digit of Mat. No. Given that a matriculation number reads U2000/3025211, the last
two digits are (in bold) U2000/3025211 and the departmental code is (in bold)
U2000/3025211; therefore, the last digit of the departmental code is (in bold)
U2000/3025211.
3. Use the optimisation tool in Microsoft Excel (Solver Add-in) to ATTEMPT
Questions 9, 10, and 11.
4. Similarities in the presentation of solutions attract an AUTOMATIC ZERO grade in
the affected solution(s). However, collaboration is highly encouraged!
5. Clearly identify yourself before turning in your assignment.
6. The assignment should be turned in through the Course Reps on 11 March 2025;
failure to do so attracts an AUTOMATIC ZERO grade.
7. Detailed explanation of results is highly encouraged!
Page 1 of 3 This is a 3-page question paper
1. Solve the one-dimensional wave equation:
𝜕2𝑣 𝜕2𝑣
= 𝑐 2 𝜕𝑥 2 ; 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿, 𝑡 > 0
𝜕𝑡 2
With the following boundary conditions
𝜕𝑣
𝑢(0, 𝑡) = 0, 𝑢(𝐿, 𝑡) = 0, 𝑢(𝑥, 0) = 𝑓(𝑥), (𝑥, 0) = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝜕𝑡
2. Solve the one-dimensional Laplace equation:
𝜕2𝑇
=0
𝜕𝑥 2
in the domain, 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿, given that 𝑇(0) = 𝐴 and 𝑇(𝐿) = 𝐵
3. Classify the following PDE:
𝜕2𝑣 𝜕2𝑣
(i) + 𝜕𝑥 2 = 0
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
(ii) − 𝜑 2 𝜕𝑥 2 = 0
𝜕𝑡
𝜕2𝑣 𝜕2𝑣
(iii) − 𝑐 2 𝜕𝑥 2 = 0
𝜕𝑡 2
4. Solve the heat equation
𝜕𝑇 𝜕2 𝑇
= 𝛼 2 𝜕𝑥 2 ; 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿, 𝑡 > 0
𝜕𝑡
With the following Neumann boundary conditions (insulated ends):
𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑇
(0, 𝑡) = 0, (𝐿, 𝑡) = 0, 𝑇(𝑥, 0) = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
5. (a) Obtain the general solution of the PDE
𝜕2 𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
− 2 𝜕𝑥 = − 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
(b) Solve the equation: 𝜕𝑥 = 2 𝜕𝑡 + 𝑢
with 𝑢(𝑥, 0) = 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒 + 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 2 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑡. 𝑛𝑜.
6. Consider a commodity traded in a market where price adjustments happen over
time due to supply and demand. If the price 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑡) in a certain region 𝑥 changes
based on the diffusion of information and external shocks, how does 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑡)
evolve?
Using the price adjustment model, the PDE can be formulated as:
𝜕𝑃 𝜕2 𝑃
= 𝐷 𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕𝑡
where 𝐷 represents the rate at which price information spreads
Note: use appropriate initial and boundary conditions
Page 2 of 3 This is a 3-page question paper
7. A factory produces two types of products, A and B. Each unit of A requires 3 hours
of labour and 2 kg of raw material, while each unit of B requires 2 hours of labour
and 4 kg of raw material. The factory has 100 labour hours and 120 kg of raw
material available per week. The profit per unit is N50,000 for A and N40,000 for
B. How many units of A and B should the factory produce to maximise profit? (Hint:
Use the graphical method).
8. A company produces two types of air-conditioning units: solar-powered (S) and
hybrid-powered (H). Profit per unit is N300,000 for S and N500,000 for H.
Resource constraints:
Labour: 1,000 hours available
Solar-powered: 2 hours per unit
Hybrid-powered: 3 hours per unit
Material: 500 units available
Solar-powered: 1 unit per product
Hybrid-powered: 2 units per product
How many units of S and H should be produced to maximise profit? (Hint: Use the
graphical method)
9. A company has two warehouses (W1, W2) and needs to deliver goods to two retail
stores (S1, S2). W1 has 100 units available, and W2 has 150 units. S1 needs 80
units, and S2 needs 170 units.
The transportation cost per unit is:
▪ N4,000 from W1 to S1, N6,000 from W1 to S2
▪ N5,000 from W2 to S1, N3,000 from W2 to S2
How should the company allocate shipments to minimise total transportation cost?
(Hint: formulate the LP and solve with MS Excel Solver)
10. An investor wants to allocate funds between stocks, bonds, and real estate to
maximise returns while managing risk.
Stocks have a return of 8% but high risk.
Bonds have a return of 5% with moderate risk.
Real estate has a return of 6% with low risk.
The investor wants to invest at least 40% in low-risk investments and no more than
50% in stocks, for a total of N100,000,000.
(Hint: formulate the LP and solve with MS Excel Solver)
11. A factory needs to schedule workers for a week. The demand for workers is as
follows: Monday: 10; Tuesday: 15; Wednesday: 12; Thursday: 18; Friday: 14.
Workers are hired on weekly contracts — i.e., each worker works for five (5)
consecutive days. The goal is to minimise the number of workers hired.
(Hint: formulate the LP and solve with MS Excel Solver)
Page 3 of 3 This is a 3-page question paper
