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Exercise 12.1 · Q5

Q.Find the value of the following: Maximise Z=3x+2yZ = 3x + 2y subject to x+2y≤10x + 2y \le 10, 3x+y≤153x + y \le 15, x,y≥0x, y \ge 0.

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The maximum of Z=3x+2yZ = 3x + 2y under the given constraints occurs at the corner point (4,3)(4, 3), giving Z=18Z = 18.

This is a linear programming problem — you’re asked to maximise a linear function (the objective) over a region defined by linear inequalities. The key idea is that the maximum (or minimum) of a linear function over a convex polygon always occurs at one of the vertices (corner points) of the feasible region. So we don’t need to check every point inside; we just find where the constraints intersect and evaluate ZZ at those corners.

Let’s work through it.

  1. Plot the constraints and find the feasible region.

    The constraints are:

    x+2y≤10x + 2y \le 10

    3x+y≤153x + y \le 15

    x≥0x \ge 0, y≥0y \ge 0

    The non-negativity conditions mean we’re only in the first quadrant. Each inequality is a half-plane; the feasible region is their intersection — a polygon.

  2. Find the corner points.

    These come from:

    • Intersection of each constraint line with the axes.

    • Intersection of the two constraint lines with each other.

    • For x+2y=10x + 2y = 10:

      If x=0x = 0, then y=5y = 5 → point (0,5)(0, 5).

      If y=0y = 0, then x=10x = 10 → point (10,0)(10, 0).

    • For 3x+y=153x + y = 15:

      If x=0x = 0, then y=15y = 15 → point (0,15)(0, 15).

      If y=0y = 0, then x=5x = 5 → point (5,0)(5, 0).

    • Intersection of the two lines:

      Solve x+2y=10x + 2y = 10 and 3x+y=153x + y = 15.

      From the second, y=15−3xy = 15 - 3x. Substitute into the first:

      x+2(15−3x)=10x + 2(15 - 3x) = 10

      x+30−6x=10x + 30 - 6x = 10

      −5x=−20-5x = -20

      x=4x = 4

      Then y=15−3(4)=3y = 15 - 3(4) = 3.

      So the intersection is (4,3)(4, 3).

    Also, the origin (0,0)(0, 0) is always a corner when x,y≥0x, y \ge 0.

  3. Which of these are actually in the feasible region?

    Not every intersection with axes is feasible — it must satisfy all constraints.

    • (0,0)(0, 0): satisfies both inequalities. Feasible.
    • (0,5)(0, 5): check 3(0)+5=5≤153(0) + 5 = 5 \le 15 → OK. Feasible.
    • (0,15)(0, 15): check 0+2(15)=30≤100 + 2(15) = 30 \le 10? No. So (0,15)(0, 15) is not feasible.
    • (5,0)(5, 0): check 5+2(0)=5≤105 + 2(0) = 5 \le 10 → OK. Feasible.
    • (10,0)(10, 0): check 3(10)+0=30≤153(10) + 0 = 30 \le 15? No. So (10,0)(10, 0) is not feasible. …

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