Linear Programming Problem Example
A factory makes chairs and tables. The profit from each chair is $50 and from each table is
$80. Each chair requires 4 hours of carpentry work and 2 hours of painting work. Each table
requires 3 hours of carpentry work and 3 hours of painting work. The factory has 240 hours
of carpentry work and 180 hours of painting work available per week. Determine how many
chairs and tables the factory should produce to maximize profit.
Example: A Factory Producing Chairs and Tables
A factory makes chairs and tables.
• The profit from each chair is $50
• The profit from each table is $80
Each chair requires:
• 4 hours of carpentry work
• 2 hours of painting work
Each table requires:
• 3 hours of carpentry work
• 3 hours of painting work
🛠 The factory has:
• 240 hours of carpentry work available per week
• 180 hours of painting work available per week
The goal: How many chairs and tables should the factory produce to maximize
profit?
Step 1: Define decision variables
Let:
• x= number of chairs produced per week
• y= number of tables produced per week
Step 2: Write the objective function
We want to maximize profit:
Profit=50x+80y
Objective function:
Max Z=50x+80y
Step 3: Write the constraints
Carpentry hours constraint:
4x+3y≤240
Painting hours constraint:
2x+3y≤180
Non-negativity:
x≥0, y≥0
Step 4: Formulate the complete LPP
Maximize Z=50x+80y
subject to:
4x+3y≤240
2x+3y≤180
x≥0, y≥0
Step 5: Solve graphically (for 2 variables)
We can plot the constraints on a graph:
Draw the lines:
• 4x+3y=240
• 2x+3y=180
Identify feasible region where all constraints are satisfied.
Find corner (vertex) points of the feasible region.
Calculate Z at each corner point to find the maximum.
Let's compute the corner points:
Point A: Intersection of carpentry & painting constraints
Solve:
4x+3y=240
2x+3y=180
Subtract second from first:
(4x+3y)−(2x+3y)=240−180
2x=60
⇒ x=30
Substitute into second:
2(30)+3y=180
⇒60+3y=180
⇒3y=120
⇒y=40
So, Point A = (30, 40)
Point B: Where 4x+3y=240 meets y-axis (x=0):
4(0) +3y=240⇒y=80
Point C: Where 2x+3y=180 meets y-axis (x=0):
2(0) +3y=180⇒y=60
Point D: Where 2x+3y=180 meets x-axis (y=0):
2x=180⇒x=90
Point E: Where 4x+3y=240 meets x-axis (y=0):
4x=240⇒x=60
Step 6: Compute profit at each corner point
Point (x,y) Z = 50x + 80y
A (30,40) 50×30 + 80×40 = 1500 + 3200 = 4700
B (0,80) 0 + 6400 = 6400 (but violates painting hours)
C (0,60) 0 + 4800 = 4800
D (90,0) 4500 + 0 = 4500 (but violates carpentry hours)
E (60,0) 3000 + 0 = 3000
Maximum profit is at A (30 chairs, 40 tables): $4700
Final Answer
The factory should produce 30 chairs and 40 tables to achieve maximum profit of
$4700 within the resource limits.
Formulation
Let x = number of chairs produced per week
Let y = number of tables produced per week
Objective function: Maximize Z = 50x + 80y
Subject to:
4x + 3y ≤ 240 (carpentry constraint)
2x + 3y ≤ 180 (painting constraint)
x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0
Graph
