Maximizing the Profit of a Business

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

In this project your group will solve the following A manufacturer problem: desks and bookcases. Each item requires B has 39 A and 2 produces the following two items: computer Department To manufacture

processing in each of two departments. department A and 3 hours in department

A has 55 hours available and department

hours available each week for production.

a computer desk requires 4 hours in

B while a bookcase requires 3 hours in department

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 1. desks that are sold and Y be number of bookcases sold. A

Write down a linear inequality for the hours used in Department

4x -+ 3y ~ 55
2. Write down a linear inequality for the hours used in Department B

Jx

4-

~ 3 '}
e met. These relate to the fact that the manufacturer

There are two other linear inequalities that must

cannot produce negative numbers of items. These inequalities are as follows:

X20 Y20
3. Next, write down the profit function for the sale of X desks and Y bookcases:

p=

72 X 2 3,
-4

You now have four linear inequalities and a profit function. situation.

These together describe the manufacturing as a linear programming problem.

These together make up what is known mathematically last.

Write all of the inequalities and the profit function together below. This is typically written one on top of another, with the profit function

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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.

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5.

The above shape should have 4 corners. these corners. For the intersection

Find the coordinates

of the ordered pairs that make up

of the two slanted lines you will have to solve the 2 by 2

system made up of their equations.

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6.

The next thing to do is to plug each of the points you found in part 5 into the profit function to determine which ordered pair gives the maximum profit. Do this and write a sentence describing how many of each type of furniture maximum profit you will make. you should build and sell and what is the

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7.

Reflective Writing. Did this project change the way you think about how math can be applied to the real world? Write one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If this project did not change the way you think, write how this project gave further evidence to support your existing opinion about applying math. Be specific.

This project did expand my knowledge of how math can be applied. I don't recall learning inequalities in a real world context prior to this class. I learned that this particular technique was during the Second World War to maximize the war effort. It was kept a developed by mathematicians

secret until after the war and is now utilized by most if not all successful businesses. I should use it to maximize my children's chores around the house to increase efficiency.