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Q.Solve the following Linear Programming Problem graphically: Constraints: x−y≥0x - y \ge 0 x−2y≥−2x - 2y \ge -2 x≥0,y≥0x \ge 0, y \ge 0 Maximize Z=x+2yZ = x + 2y.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2025Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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This is a graphical linear programming problem. Plotting the constraints shows the feasible region is unbounded in the direction of increasing xx and yy. Testing Z=x+2yZ = x+2y against this unbounded region shows it can be made arbitrarily large, so ZZ has no maximum value. (The minimum value of ZZ is 00, at the corner point (0,0)(0,0).)

Why the Graphical Method Works

Linear programming with two variables can be solved visually. Each inequality describes a half-plane, and the region where all constraints overlap is the feasible region. The objective function Z=x+2yZ=x+2y represents a family of parallel lines; sliding such a line further out increases ZZ. If the feasible region is bounded, the optimum always occurs at a corner (vertex). If the feasible region is unbounded, we must additionally check whether ZZ can be pushed arbitrarily large within it before concluding a maximum exists.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Rewrite the constraints as boundary lines

  • x−y≥0  ⇒  y≤xx - y \ge 0 \;\Rightarrow\; y \le x, boundary line y=xy = x
  • x−2y≥−2  ⇒  y≤x+22x - 2y \ge -2 \;\Rightarrow\; y \le \dfrac{x+2}{2}, boundary line y=x+22y = \dfrac{x+2}{2}
  • x≥0, y≥0x \ge 0,\ y \ge 0 (first quadrant)

2. Identify the feasible region

We need points with x≥0x\ge0, y≥0y\ge0, y≤xy\le x, and y≤x+22y\le\dfrac{x+2}{2}.

Compare the two upper bounds on yy: x≤x+22  ⟺  2x≤x+2  ⟺  x≤2x \le \dfrac{x+2}{2} \iff 2x \le x+2 \iff x \le 2. So:

  • for 0≤x≤20\le x\le 2, the line y=xy=x is the tighter of the two bounds, and is the effective upper boundary of the region;
  • for x≥2x \ge 2, the line y=x+22y=\dfrac{x+2}{2} becomes the tighter bound and takes over as the upper boundary.

At x=0x=0: y≤x=0y\le x=0 together with y≥0y\ge0 forces y=0y=0, so the region starts at the single point (0,0)(0,0). The point (0,1)(0,1), which lies on y=x+22y=\dfrac{x+2}{2} at x=0x=0, does not satisfy y≤xy\le x (since 0−1=−1<00-1=-1 < 0), so it is not part of the feasible region.

The two boundary lines meet where x=x+22⇒x=2, y=2x=\dfrac{x+2}{2}\Rightarrow x=2,\ y=2 — the point (2,2)(2,2).

So the feasible region is bounded by:

  • y=0y=0 (the xx-axis) below, for all x≥0x\ge0 — extending to infinity as x→∞x\to\infty,
  • y=xy=x above, from (0,0)(0,0) to (2,2)(2,2),
  • y=x+22y=\dfrac{x+2}{2} above, from (2,2)(2,2) onward — also extending to infinity as x→∞x\to\infty.

This region is therefore unbounded — it opens out indefinitely toward increasing xx (and yy).

Watch out

(0,1)(0,1) is often mistaken for a vertex because it satisfies x≥0x\ge0 and y≤x+22y\le\dfrac{x+2}{2}, but it fails y≤xy\le x, so it does not satisfy all the constraints and is not part of the feasible region. Always check a candidate corner point against every constraint before using it.

3. Evaluate Z=x+2yZ=x+2y at the finite corner points

Corner PointZ=x+2yZ = x + 2y
(0,0)(0,0)00
(2,2)(2,2)2+4=62+4=6

4. Check whether ZZ is bounded above on this region …

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