Example 3 : Bullco Fertilizer problem

 

 

Bullco blends silicon and nitrogen to produce two types of fertilizers.  Fertilizer 1 must be at least 40% nitrogen and sells for $70/pound.  Fertilizer 2 must be at least 70% silicon and sells for $40/lb.  Bullco can purchase up to 80 lbs of nitrogen at $10/lb and up to 100 lbs silicon at $15/lb.  Assuming that all fertilizer produced can be sold, formulate an LP to help Bullco maximize its profits.

 

 

(From Introduction to Mathematical Programming, by Wayne L. Winston. P.87)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formulate the Problem:

 

 

Let Xs1 be the amount in pounds of silicon used in fertilizer 1 and Xs2 be the amount in pounds of silicon used in fertilizer 2.  Let Xn1 be the amount in pounds of nitrogen used in fertilizer 1 and Xn2 be the amount in pounds of nitrogen used in fertilizer 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Objective Function:

 

 

Max Z = 70(Xn1 + Xs1) + 40(Xn2+Xs2) – 15(Xs1 + Xs2) – 10(Xn1+Xn2)

 

 

ST :      Xs1 + Xs2 <= 100

 

 

            Xn1 + Xn2 <= 80

 

 

            Xn1 >= 0.4(Xs1 + Xn1)

 

 

            Xs2 >= 0.7(Xs2 + Xn2)

 

 

            All variabless >= 0

 

 

 

 

 

We need to convert these equations into equations that we can plug into Excel & Solver:

 

 

Max Z = 60Xn1 + 55Xs1 + 30Xn2 + 25Xs2

 

 

ST :      1Xs1 + 1Xs2 <= 100

 

 

            1Xn1 + 1Xn2 <= 80

 

 

            0.6 Xn1 – 0.4Xs1 >= 0

 

 

            0.3 Xs2 – 0.7Xn2 >= 0

 

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