Math 1010 Project 1 Ads Project
Math 1010 Project 1 Ads Project
Background Information:
Graphing the system of inequalities based on the constraints provides a visual representation of
the possible solutions to the problem. If the graph is a closed region, it can be shown that the
values that optimize the objective function will occur at one of the "corners" of the region.
The Problem:
A local business plans on advertising their new product by purchasing advertisements on the
radio and on TV. The business plans to purchase at least 60 total ads and they want to have at
least twice as many TV ads as radio ads. Radio ads cost $20 each and TV ads cost $80 each.
The advertising budget is $4320. It is estimated that each radio ad will be heard by 2000
listeners and each TV ad will be seen by 1500 people. How many of each type of ad should be
purchased to maximize the number of people who will be reached by the advertisements?
R=X=2000=$20
T=Y=1500=$80
Modeling the Problem:
Let X be the number of radio ads that are purchased and Y be the number of TV ads.
1. Write down a linear inequality for the total number of desired ads.
x+y60
x+y60 = -x -x
y-x+60
2. Write down a linear inequality for the cost of the ads.
20x+80y4320
-20x -20x
20x+80y4320 = 80y-20x+4320
8 8 8
1
y- 4 x+54
3. Recall that the business wants at least twice as many TV ads as radio ads. Write down a
linear inequality that expresses this fact.
y2x
4. There are two more constraints that must be met. These relate to the fact that there cannot be
s negative numbers of advertisements. Write the two inequalities that model these
constraints:
x0
y0
5. Next, write down the function for the number of people that will be exposed to the
advertisements. This is the Objective Function for the problem.
P
2000x + 1500y
You now have five linear inequalities and an objective function. These together describe the
situation. This combined set of inequalities and objective function make up what is known
mathematically as a linear programming problem. Write all of the inequalities and the
objective function together below. This is typically written as a list of constraints, with the
objective function last.
8. To find which number of radio and TV ads will maximize the number of people who are exposed to
the business advertisements, evaluate the objective function P for each of the vertices you found.
Show your work.
2000x + 1500y = P
There should be 24 radio ads and 48 TV ads purchased to reach the maximum number of
120,000 people, which is 48,000 people exposed to the TV ads and 72,000 exposed to the radio
ads.
Did this project change the way you think about how math can be applied to the real world? Write
one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If this project did not change the way you think,
write how this project gave further evidence to support your existing opinion about applying math.
Be specific.
I know there is way more math going on in the real world that I have never much cared
to find out about. Getting back into math and retraining my brain to know the types of math that
actually help people succeed in their businesses and how to maximize their assets is very
enlightening. Especially since I need to take math further that I have ever done before to go on to
optometry school.