1 1 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Chapter 2 Introduction to Linear Programming n Linear Programming Problem n Problem Formulation n A Maximization Problem n Graphical Solution Procedure n Extreme Points and the Optimal Solution n Computer Solutions n A Minimization Problem n Special Cases

2 2 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Linear Programming (LP) Problem n The maximization or minimization of some quantity is the objective in all linear programming problems. n All LP problems have constraints that limit the degree to which the objective can be pursued. n A feasible solution satisfies all the problem's constraints. n An optimal solution is a feasible solution that results in the largest possible objective function value when maximizing (or smallest when minimizing). n A graphical solution method can be used to solve a linear program with two variables.

3 3 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Linear Programming (LP) Problem n If both the objective function and the constraints are linear, the problem is referred to as a linear programming problem. n Linear functions are functions in which each variable appears in a separate term raised to the first power and is multiplied by a constant (which could be 0). n Linear constraints are linear functions that are restricted to be "less than or equal to", "equal to", or "greater than or equal to" a constant.

4 4 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Problem Formulation n Problem formulation or modeling is the process of translating a verbal statement of a problem into a mathematical statement.

5 5 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Guidelines for Model Formulation n Understand the problem thoroughly. n Describe the objective. n Describe each constraint. n Define the decision variables. n Write the objective in terms of the decision variables. n Write the constraints in terms of the decision variables.

6 6 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: A Maximization Problem n LP Formulation Max 5 x x 2 Max 5 x x 2 s.t. x 1 < 6 s.t. x 1 < 6 2 x x 2 < 19 2 x x 2 < 19 x 1 + x 2 < 8 x 1 + x 2 < 8 x 1, x 2 > 0 x 1, x 2 > 0

7 7 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Constraint #1 Graphed x 2 x 2 x1x1x1x1 x 1 < 6 (6, 0)

8 8 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Constraint #2 Graphed 2 x x 2 < 19 x 2 x 2 x1x1x1x1 (0, 6 1/3 ) (9 1/2, 0)

9 9 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Constraint #3 Graphed x 2 x 2 x1x1x1x1 x 1 + x 2 < 8 (0, 8) (8, 0)

10 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Combined-Constraint Graph 2 x x 2 < 19 x 2 x 2 x1x1x1x1 x 1 + x 2 < 8 x 1 <

11 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Feasible Solution Region x1x1x1x1 FeasibleRegion x 2 x 2

12 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Objective Function Line x1x1x1x1 x 2 x 2 (7, 0) (0, 5) Objective Function 5 x 1 + 7x 2 = 35 Objective Function 5 x 1 + 7x 2 = 35

13 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 1: Graphical Solution n Optimal Solution x1x1x1x1 x 2 x 2 Objective Function 5 x 1 + 7x 2 = 46 Objective Function 5 x 1 + 7x 2 = 46 Optimal Solution ( x 1 = 5, x 2 = 3) Optimal Solution ( x 1 = 5, x 2 = 3)

14 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Summary of the Graphical Solution Procedure for Maximization Problems n Prepare a graph of the feasible solutions for each of the constraints. n Determine the feasible region that satisfies all the constraints simultaneously.. n Draw an objective function line. n Move parallel objective function lines toward larger objective function values without entirely leaving the feasible region. n Any feasible solution on the objective function line with the largest value is an optimal solution.

15 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 2: A Minimization Problem n LP Formulation Min 5 x x 2 Min 5 x x 2 s.t. 2 x x 2 > 10 s.t. 2 x x 2 > 10 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 x 1 + x 2 > 4 x 1 + x 2 > 4 x 1, x 2 > 0 x 1, x 2 > 0

16 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 2: Graphical Solution n Graph the Constraints Constraint 1: When x 1 = 0, then x 2 = 2; when x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 5. Connect (5,0) and (0,2). The ">" side is above this line. Constraint 1: When x 1 = 0, then x 2 = 2; when x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 5. Connect (5,0) and (0,2). The ">" side is above this line. Constraint 2: When x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 3. But setting x 1 to 0 will yield x 2 = -12, which is not on the graph. Thus, to get a second point on this line, set x 1 to any number larger than 3 and solve for x 2 : when Constraint 2: When x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 3. But setting x 1 to 0 will yield x 2 = -12, which is not on the graph. Thus, to get a second point on this line, set x 1 to any number larger than 3 and solve for x 2 : when x 1 = 5, then x 2 = 8. Connect (3,0) and (5,8). The ">" side is to the right. Constraint 3: When x 1 = 0, then x 2 = 4; when x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 4. Connect (4,0) and (0,4). The ">" side is above this line. Constraint 3: When x 1 = 0, then x 2 = 4; when x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 4. Connect (4,0) and (0,4). The ">" side is above this line.

17 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 2: Graphical Solution n Constraints Graphed x2x2x2x2 x2x2x2x2 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 x 1 + x 2 > 4 x 1 + x 2 > 4 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 x 1 + x 2 > 4 x 1 + x 2 > 4 2 x x 2 > 10 x1x1x1x1 x1x1x1x1 Feasible Region

18 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 2: Graphical Solution n Graph the Objective Function Set the objective function equal to an arbitrary constant (say 20) and graph it. For 5 x x 2 = 20, when x 1 = 0, then x 2 = 10; when x 2 = 0, then x 1 = 4. Connect (4,0) and (0,10). n Move the Objective Function Line Toward Optimality Move it in the direction which lowers its value (down), since we are minimizing, until it touches the last point of the feasible region, determined by the last two constraints.

19 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example 2: Graphical Solution n Objective Function Graphed x2x2x2x2 x2x2x2x2 Min z = 5 x x 2 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 x 1 + x 2 > 4 Min z = 5 x x 2 4 x 1 - x 2 > 12 x 1 + x 2 > 4 2 x x 2 > 10 x1x1x1x1 x1x1x1x1

20 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western n Solve for the Extreme Point at the Intersection of the Two Binding Constraints 4 x 1 - x 2 = 12 4 x 1 - x 2 = 12 x 1 + x 2 = 4 x 1 + x 2 = 4 Adding these two equations gives: Adding these two equations gives: 5 x 1 = 16 or x 1 = 16/5. 5 x 1 = 16 or x 1 = 16/5. Substituting this into x 1 + x 2 = 4 gives: x 2 = 4/5 Substituting this into x 1 + x 2 = 4 gives: x 2 = 4/5 Example 2: Graphical Solution

21 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Feasible Region n The feasible region for a two-variable LP problem can be nonexistent, a single point, a line, a polygon, or an unbounded area. n Any linear program falls in one of three categories: is infeasible is infeasible has a unique optimal solution or alternate optimal solutions has a unique optimal solution or alternate optimal solutions has an objective function that can be increased without bound has an objective function that can be increased without bound n A feasible region may be unbounded and yet there may be optimal solutions. This is common in minimization problems and is possible in maximization problems.

22 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Special Cases n Alternative Optimal Solutions In the graphical method, if the objective function line is parallel to a boundary constraint in the direction of optimization, there are alternate optimal solutions, with all points on this line segment being optimal. n Infeasibility A linear program which is overconstrained so that no point satisfies all the constraints is said to be infeasible. A linear program which is overconstrained so that no point satisfies all the constraints is said to be infeasible. n Unboundedness (See example on upcoming slide.)

23 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example: Infeasible Problem n Solve graphically for the optimal solution: Max 2 x x 2 Max 2 x x 2 s.t. 4 x x 2 < 12 s.t. 4 x x 2 < 12 2 x 1 + x 2 > 8 2 x 1 + x 2 > 8 x 1, x 2 > 0 x 1, x 2 > 0

24 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example: Infeasible Problem n There are no points that satisfy both constraints, hence this problem has no feasible region, and no optimal solution. x2x2x2x2 x1x1x1x1 4 x x 2 < 12 2 x 1 + x 2 >

25 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example: Unbounded Problem n Solve graphically for the optimal solution: Max 3 x x 2 Max 3 x x 2 s.t. x 1 + x 2 > 5 s.t. x 1 + x 2 > 5 3 x 1 + x 2 > 8 3 x 1 + x 2 > 8 x 1, x 2 > 0 x 1, x 2 > 0

26 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western Example: Unbounded Problem n The feasible region is unbounded and the objective function line can be moved parallel to itself without bound so that z can be increased infinitely. x2x2x2x2 x1x1x1x1 3x 1 + x 2 > 8 x 1 + x 2 > 5 Max 3x 1 + 4x

27 Slide © 2005 Thomson/South-Western End of Chapter 2