Maximizing the Profit of a Business

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

In this project your group will solve the following problem:
A manufacturer produces the following two items: computer desks and bookcases. Each item
requires processing in each of two departmen!s. Department A has 55 hours available and
department B has 39 hours available each week for production. To manufacture a computer
desk requires 4 hours in department A and 3 hours in department B while a bookcase requires 3
hours in department A and 2 hours in department B. Profits on the items are $72 and $23
respectively. If all the units can be sold, how many of each should be made to maximize profits?
Let X be the number of computer that are sold and Y be number of bookcases sold.
1. Write down a linear inequality for the ho rs used in Department A
. 0 . t y -f- c
2. Write down a linear inequality for the hours used in Department B
'
There are two other linear inequalities that must be met. These relate to the fact that the
manufacturer cannot produce negative numbers of items. These inequalities are as follows:
0
'4?
3. Next, write down the profit function for the sale of X desks and Y bookcases:
= 12 z?
You now have four linear inequalities and a profit function. Th se together describe the
manufacturing situation. These together make up what is known mathematically as a linear
programming problem. Write all of the inequalities and the profit function together below. This
is typically written one on top of another, with the profit function last.

L
s<;""
'--
3)( +''I
">
)(
0
'I
'>
0
-
p :: :r '2..)<.
?-31
])yo-+ A
4. To solve this problem, you will need to graph the intersection of all four inequalities
on one common XY plane. Do this on the grid below. Have the bottom left be the origin,
with the horizontal axis representing X and the vertical axis representing Y.
t...J>< r !::-
3 '
:::t - --::;-
...

..,;

-t-1 '-,(

t

-..::!.
...

?_y
?.y -
_/ - v
'1--- "7: I'

---
,co.1.
'
5. The above shap h ld e s ou have 4 corners. Find the c .
make up these corners For the I. t . oordlnates of the ordered pairs that
n ersect1on of the t 1 .
solve the 2 by 2 system made up f th . . wo s anted lines you will have to
0 e1r equations.
( () \ Q Y ( 0
1
I J ( "} 1 Cf ) f 3 1 0)
-r 3y ::.
:.. v. t I '2:>'1
..., -= ...-1"1'
3 ( -t ') """ 7.. y -:: 3
- , -a.l .... 'Ly ..
21. t
I
'P vv- 'I \
...
4/ ..... ,
] - $""S. .-r - .

(
6. The next thing to f th .
to determine which ordered pair giv:s the you in part 5 into the profit function
describing how many of each type of f etmaxlmum profit. Do this and write a sentence
maximum profit you will make ure should build and sell and what is the
. -
(o, o )
o
1

p-; -:rz.(o) J. 1. 3(o) ? -= 0
p : "l "t ( o ) C. '3 ( I '& . f =
e"" -:rzl + ... ..,c"') f =
p = 1--'Z. ( r'>) +- 1. .. ( o) f> ""
(1 c,\
ll)
1
o)
-rh (!_ J
"""'
J u,l:<s . . '"
<>'-"-c). 0 book C."'-<-<- u,<--> r d s q <,(., . 00 ;_.... p rcl't.
(1.11 L s 2. 'l_ <; . oV wu> r ..._ i.M.. f reo .f'J 6"-'- '1
0-fi..vr )0 I 1-'-,._h. 0 I; {v._ V "- f r C J-z
7. Reflective Writing.
Did this project change the way you think about how m .
world? Write one paragraph stating h t .d ath can be applied to the real
change the way you think write ho wth.a I changed and why. If this project did not
' w IS proJect gave further d
existing opinion about applying math B . . evl ence to support your
e spec1f1c.
I S<:.-L l;uw he--lp
b(A_ s; V1 s d v c-<- f t\ r uc__l I , f'!. b.(_ oJo !-<...
+o --\=','\v..''- o....___+ -/-b pro+Zf s
b t. ... J cQ b<_ CA h_ v-- <. CAS(_; d +o 0--v-- '1
/._ J:-v--JJ procl......_d f
'\ u e.. S .(lAA ') <---> ou.l ol Yl co+ b <- VV' ov. J \._, . j , k '-"--'
pro ud 1 due i c1 iM_ ") yt-<>-j .f-o C. <A
v-o ..... f d h-<- tJ< de.. Sl ec",...__ -ho
f\4 cJ<.. e. <P --/{......._ VV' .jv sv-.pp ,,.. f J