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GRAPHICAL METHOD
EXAMPLE:
An airline offers coach and first-class tickets. For the
airline to be profitable, it must sell a minimum of 25
first-class tickets and a minimum of 40 coach tickets.
The company makes a profit of $225 for each coach
ticket and $200 for each first-class ticket. At most,
the plane has a capacity of 150 travelers. How many
of each ticket should be sold in order to maximize
profits?
STEP 1.
Define the variables to be optimized.The question asked is a good indicator as to what these will
be.
Let
• x = # of coach tickets
• y = # of first-class tickets
STEP 2.
Write the objective function in words, then convert to mathematical equation.
Our goal is to maximize profits.
Since the goal is the maximize profits. We want to make the value of
as large as possible, provided the constraints are met. In this case, we have the following
constraints:
• At least 25 first-class tickets means that 25 or more should be sold. That is, y ≥ 25
• At least 40 coach tickets means that 40 or more should be sold. That is, x ≥ 40
• The sum of first-class and coach tickets should be 150 or fewer. That is x + y ≤ 150
STEP 4.
Graph the constraints as equations
x= 40 (40,0)
y= 25 (0,25)
x + y = 150 (0,150), (150,0)
The first two equations are horizontal and vertical lines, respectively.
To plot x + y= 150, it is preferable to find the horizontal and vertical
intercepts.
• To find the vertical intercept, we let
x = 0:
y= 150
• Giving us the point (0,150)
• To find the horizontal intercept, we let
y = 0:
x = 150
• Giving us the point (150,0)
• Plotting all three equations gives:
STEP 5.
Shade feasible regions by taking into account
the inequality sign and its direction.
Point Profit
(40,110) 225(40) + 200(110) = $31,000
(40,25) 225(40) + 200(25) = $14,000
(125,25) 225(125) + 200(25) = $33,125
The third point, (125,25) maximizes profit. Therefore, we conclude that the airline should sell 125
coach tickets and 25 first-class tickets in order to maximize profits