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Q.Solve the following linear programming problem graphically: Maximize z=6x+3yz = 6x + 3y subject to the constraints: 4x+y≥804x + y \ge 80 3x+2y≤1503x + 2y \le 150 x+5y≥115x + 5y \ge 115 x≥0,y≥0x \ge 0, y \ge 0

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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This is a maximization problem with a mix of ≥\ge and ≤\le constraints. The feasible region is bounded by three lines and the axes. The maximum of z=6x+3yz = 6x + 3y occurs at a corner point of the feasible region. The optimal solution is x=40x = 40, y=15y = 15, giving z=285z = 285.

Why the graphical method works

Linear programming problems with two variables can be solved by drawing the constraints as straight lines on the xyxy-plane. Each inequality defines a half-plane. The intersection of all these half-planes is the feasible region — the set of all points that satisfy every constraint.

For a maximization problem, the optimal value of zz (if it exists) will occur at one of the corner points (vertices) of this feasible region. This is the fundamental theorem of linear programming. So we:

  1. Draw each constraint line.
  2. Shade the correct side for each inequality.
  3. Find the common region.
  4. List its corner points.
  5. Evaluate zz at each corner.
  6. Pick the largest value.
Watch out

The first and third constraints are "greater than or equal to" (≥\ge). This means the feasible region lies above those lines, not below. Many students shade the wrong side and get an unbounded region or a wrong answer.


Step-by-step solution

1. Convert inequalities to equations

We rewrite each constraint as a line equation:

  • 4x+y=804x + y = 80
  • 3x+2y=1503x + 2y = 150
  • x+5y=115x + 5y = 115
  • x=0x = 0 (the yy-axis)
  • y=0y = 0 (the xx-axis)

2. Find intercepts for each line

Linexx-intercept (y=0y=0)yy-intercept (x=0x=0)
4x+y=804x + y = 80(20,0)(20, 0)(0,80)(0, 80)
3x+2y=1503x + 2y = 150(50,0)(50, 0)(0,75)(0, 75)
x+5y=115x + 5y = 115(115,0)(115, 0)(0,23)(0, 23)

3. Determine the correct half-plane for each inequality

  • 4x+y≥804x + y \ge 80: Test (0,0)(0,0): 0≥800 \ge 80 is false. So shade away from the origin — above the line.
  • 3x+2y≤1503x + 2y \le 150: Test (0,0)(0,0): 0≤1500 \le 150 is true. So shade toward the origin — below the line.
  • x+5y≥115x + 5y \ge 115: Test (0,0)(0,0): 0≥1150 \ge 115 is false. So shade away from the origin — above the line.
  • x≥0,y≥0x \ge 0, y \ge 0: First quadrant only.

4. Find the feasible region

The feasible region is the intersection of all these half-planes. It is a bounded polygon (a quadrilateral, in fact). Let's find its vertices by solving pairs of equations.

5. Find all corner points

Corner A: Intersection of 4x+y=804x + y = 80 and x+5y=115x + 5y = 115

From 4x+y=804x + y = 80, we have y=80−4xy = 80 - 4x.

Substitute into x+5(80−4x)=115x + 5(80 - 4x) = 115:

x+400−20x=115x + 400 - 20x = 115

−19x=−285-19x = -285

x=15x = 15

Then y=80−4(15)=80−60=20y = 80 - 4(15) = 80 - 60 = 20.

So A = (15, 20).


Corner B: Intersection of 4x+y=804x + y = 80 and 3x+2y=1503x + 2y = 150

From 4x+y=804x + y = 80, we have y=80−4xy = 80 - 4x.

Substitute into 3x+2(80−4x)=1503x + 2(80 - 4x) = 150:

3x+160−8x=1503x + 160 - 8x = 150

−5x=−10-5x = -10

x=2x = 2

Then y=80−4(2)=80−8=72y = 80 - 4(2) = 80 - 8 = 72.

So B = (2, 72).


Corner C: Intersection of 3x+2y=1503x + 2y = 150 and x+5y=115x + 5y = 115

From x+5y=115x + 5y = 115, we have x=115−5yx = 115 - 5y.

Substitute into 3(115−5y)+2y=1503(115 - 5y) + 2y = 150:

345−15y+2y=150345 - 15y + 2y = 150

−13y=−195-13y = -195

y=15y = 15

Then x=115−5(15)=115−75=40x = 115 - 5(15) = 115 - 75 = 40.

So C = (40, 15).


Corner D: Intersection of x+5y=115x + 5y = 115 and y=0y = 0

If y=0y = 0, then x=115x = 115. So D = (115, 0).


Corner E: Intersection of 3x+2y=1503x + 2y = 150 and x=0x = 0

If x=0x = 0, then 2y=1502y = 150, so y=75y = 75. So E = (0, 75).


Corner F: Intersection of 4x+y=804x + y = 80 and x=0x = 0

If x=0x = 0, then y=80y = 80. So F = (0, 80).


Tip

Not all of these points are actually in the feasible region. A point must satisfy all constraints simultaneously. Always check each candidate against every inequality.

6. Check which corners are actually feasible

| Point | 4x+y≥804x + y \ge 80 | 3x+2y≤1503x + 2y \le 150 | x+5y≥115x + 5y \ge 115 | x≥0,y≥0x \ge 0, y \ge 0 | Feasible? |

|-------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------| …

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