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Ramos Company
Ramos Company utilizes a small generator. Such small generator burns two
types of fuel: low sulfur and high sulfur to produce electricity. For one hour,
each gallon of low sulfur emits 3 units of sulfur dioxide, generates 4
kilowatts of electricity and costs P160. Each gallon of high sulfur emits 5
units of sulfur dioxide, generates 4 kilowatts and costs P150. The
environmental protection agency insists that the maximum amount of sulfur
dioxide that can be emitted per hour is 15 units. Suppose that at least 16
kilowatts must be generated per hour, how many galloons of high sulfur
and low sulfur must be utilized per hour in order to minimize the cost of fuel?
Solution:
Step 1: Represent the unknown in the problem
Let x = number of gallons of low sulfur
Let y = number of gallons of high sulfur
Step 2: Tabulate the data about the unknown
Units of Sulfur No. of Kilowatts Cost
Oxide
Low Sulfur (x) 3x 4x 160x
High Sulfur (y) 5y 4y 150y
Step 3: Formulate the objective function and constraints
Minimize: 𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝒚 (objective)
Subject to: 3𝑥 + 5𝑦 ≤ 15
4𝑥 + 4𝑦 ≥ 16 constraints
𝒙 ≥ 𝟎 ;𝒚 ≥ 𝟎
Step 4: Graph the constraints
Graph The Equations
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 15 4𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 16 𝑥=0 𝑦=0
𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, Graph is the y- Graph is the x-
𝑦=0 𝑥=0 𝑦=0 𝑥=0 axis, since x=0 axis, since
3𝑥 + 5(0) = 14 3(0) + 5𝑦 = 15 4𝑥 + 4(0) = 16 4(0) + 4𝑦 = 16 y=0
3𝑥 15 5𝑦 15 4𝑥 16 4𝑦 16
= = = =
3 3 5 5 4 4 4 4
𝒙=𝟓 𝒚=𝟑 𝒙=𝟒 𝒚=𝟒
(5, 0) (0, 3) (4, 0) (0,4)
Testing the Origin; x and y are equal to zero (0)
3(0) + 5(0) ≤ 15 4(0) + 4(0) ≥ 16 Graph should include positive
0 ≤ 15 0 ≥ 16 values/quadrant
True, the graph should False, the graph should NOT
include the origin include the origin
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4𝑥 + 4𝑦 ≥ 16
4𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 16
(0, 4)
●
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 15 (0, 3) ●
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 ≤ 15 (2.5, 1.5)
●
(4, 0) ● ●
(5, 0)
Vertices:
(2.5, 1.5)
(4, 0)
(5, 0)
Alternative way of computing the intersection point (by substitution or
elimination)
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 15
3𝑥 = −5𝑦 + 15
3𝑥 −5𝑦 + 15
=
3 3
𝟓
𝒙= − 𝒚+𝟓
𝟑
4𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 16 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑦 = 1.5
5 4𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 16
4 0− 𝑦 + 51 + 4𝑦 = 16
3 4𝑥 + 4 (1.5) = 0
20 4𝑥 + 6 = 16
− 𝑦 + 20 + 4𝑦 = 16
3 4𝑥 = 16 − 6
20 4𝑥 10
− 𝑦 + 4𝑦 = 16 − 20 =
3 4 4
−20 + 12 𝟏𝟎 𝟓
𝑦 = −4 𝒙= 𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝟐. 𝟓
3 𝟒 𝟐
8
− 𝑦 = −4
3
8
−3 0− 𝑦1 = (−4)(−3)
3
8𝑦 = 12
8𝑦 12
=
8 8
𝟏𝟐 𝟑 𝟏
𝒚= 𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝟏 𝒐𝒓 𝟏. 𝟓
𝟖 𝟐 𝟐
Common Solution or intersection point: (2.5, 1.5)
Step 5: Substitute the coordinates at the vertices of the feasible region
in the objective function
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Vertices Objective Function: Minimize: 𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝒚
(2.5, 1.5) 160 (2.5) + 150 (1.5) = 400 + 225 = 𝟔𝟐𝟓
(4,0) 160 (4) + 150 (0) = 640 + 0 = 𝟔𝟒𝟎
(5,0) 160 (5) + 150 (0) = 800 + 0 = 𝟖𝟎𝟎
Step 6: Formulate your decision by selecting the highest value of the
objective if its maximization and the lowest value if it is minimization.
Since it is minimization, look for the highest outcome in the substitution of
vertices.
Therefore, since (2.5, 1.5) produces the maximum amount of the objective
function, therefore, the decision must be to utilize:
x = 2.5 number of gallons of low sulfur
y = 1.5 number of gallons of high sulfur
Minimum cost P625
To check, substitute the values of x and y to the constraints function to see if
the constraints are satisfied
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 ≤ 15 4𝑥 + 4𝑦 ≥ 16
3(2.5) + 5(1.5) ≤ 15 4(2.5) + 4(1.5) ≥ 16
7.5 + 7.5 ≤ 15 10 + 6 ≥ 16
15 ≤ 15 16 ≥ 16