Case Problem:
Objective: Minimize the total cost of running a school
Variables:
- x1: Number of teachers
- x2: Number of classrooms
- x3: Amount spent on supplies
Constraints:
- Number of students must be accommodated: 1000 students
- Maximum budget: $1,000,000
- Minimum number of teachers: 50
Data:
- Cost of each teacher: $50,000
- Cost of each classroom: $200,000
- Cost of supplies: $200 per student
Solution using Simplex Techniques:
Step 1: Construct the Tableau
| Variable | Coefficient | x1 | x2 | x3 | RHS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | 1 | -50,000 | -200,000 | -200 | 0 |
| Constraint 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1000 |
| Constraint 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1,000,000 |
| Constraint 3 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -50 |
Step 2: Introduce Slack Variables
| Variable | Coefficient | x1 | x2 | x3 | s1 | s2 | RHS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | 1 | -50,000 | -200,000 | -200 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Constraint 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1000 |
| Constraint 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,000,000 |
| Constraint 3 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -50 |
Step 3: Find the Initial Feasible Solution
- Set all non-basic variables to 0.
- The initial feasible solution is: (x1 = 0, x2 = 0, x3 = 0, s1 = 1000, s2 = 1,000,000).
Step 4: Perform Pivot Operations
- Select the most negative coefficient in the objective function row.
- In this case, it is -50,000 in the x1 column.
- Choose the row with the smallest non-negative ratio of the RHS to the coefficient of the entering variable.
- In this case, it is row 1.
- Perform pivot operations and update the tableau.
Step 5: Repeat Steps 4-5 until Optimality is Achieved
| Variable | Coefficient | x1 | x2 | x3 | s1 | s2 | RHS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | 1 | 0 | -100,000 | -100 | 0 | 90,000 | 50,000 |
| Constraint 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 250 |
| Constraint 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 500,000 |
| Constraint 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2000 |
- Since the objective function coefficient is non-positive, optimality is achieved.
Optimal Solution:
The optimal solution is to hire 50 teachers, have 10 classrooms, and spend $200,000 on supplies. The total cost of running the school is $50,000,000.