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Q.Determine graphically the minimum value of the following objective function : z=500x+400yz = 500x + 400y subject to constraints x+y≤200x + y \leq 200, x≥20x \geq 20, y≥4xy \geq 4x, y≥0y \geq 0.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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The graphical method finds the minimum of z=500x+400yz = 500x + 400y by plotting the feasible region from the constraints and checking the objective function at each corner point. The minimum value is z=42000z = 42000 at (x,y)=(20,80)(x, y) = (20, 80).

Linear programming problems like this one ask: given a set of linear constraints (inequalities), what point in the feasible region makes the objective function as small as possible? The graphical method works because for a linear objective, the optimum always occurs at a corner (vertex) of the feasible region — provided the region is bounded in the direction of optimization. Here we're minimizing, so we look for the lowest value of zz as we slide a line 500x+400y=constant500x + 400y = \text{constant} across the region.

Let's build the feasible region constraint by constraint.

  1. Plot each constraint as a line, then shade the allowed side.

    • x+y≤200x + y \leq 200: The line x+y=200x + y = 200 passes through (200,0)(200,0) and (0,200)(0,200). Since (0,0)(0,0) satisfies 0≤2000 \leq 200, we shade below this line.
    • x≥20x \geq 20: A vertical line at x=20x = 20. Shade to the right.
    • y≥4xy \geq 4x: The line y=4xy = 4x passes through (0,0)(0,0) and (50,200)(50,200). Test (20,0)(20,0): 0≥800 \geq 80 is false, so shade above this line.
    • y≥0y \geq 0: The xx-axis, shade above it.
  2. Find the intersection points that form the vertices of the feasible region.

    The region is a polygon. Its corners come from solving pairs of boundary equations:

    • Intersection of x=20x = 20 and y=4xy = 4x: (20,80)(20, 80).
    • Intersection of x=20x = 20 and x+y=200x + y = 200: (20,180)(20, 180).
    • Intersection of y=4xy = 4x and x+y=200x + y = 200: Substitute y=4xy = 4x into x+4x=200⇒5x=200⇒x=40x + 4x = 200 \Rightarrow 5x = 200 \Rightarrow x = 40, then y=160y = 160. So (40,160)(40, 160).
    • Also check where y=0y = 0 meets x=20x = 20: (20,0)(20, 0). But does (20,0)(20,0) satisfy y≥4xy \geq 4x? 0≥800 \geq 80 is false, so it's not in the region. Similarly, (0,0)(0,0) fails x≥20x \geq 20. So only the three points above are actual vertices.
    Watch out

    A common mistake is to include (20,0)(20,0) or (0,0)(0,0) as vertices without checking all constraints. Always verify that a candidate point satisfies every inequality — not just the two lines that define it.

  3. Sketch the feasible region. …

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