Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A diet needs at least units of fibre and at least units of iron. Food P gives unit of fibre and units of iron per kilogram. Food Q gives units of fibre and unit of iron per kilogram, and costs rupees a kilogram. The price of P is rupees a kilogram. The corners of the region are , and . For which price do the diets and cost the same? What is that cost? And up to which price of P is the mixed diet still among the cheapest?
A diet problem has needs that are minimums, so its constraints use and the feasible region is unbounded. Work out the cost at each corner. With positive prices the smallest corner cost is the minimum. When a price changes, the cheapest corner changes where two corner costs are equal.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The costs in terms of . At , . At , . At , .
Step 2. The first tie. Setting gives , so . Then each diet costs rupees. For below , the all-P diet at is cheaper.
Step 3. The second tie. Setting gives , so . For above the diet is cheaper.
Step 4. Say it. The mixed diet of kg of P and kg of Q is cheapest when .
Answer: the tie is at with cost rupees, and the mixed diet stays cheapest up to .
Log in to join the discussion.
Loading…