Optimization Problems
Optimization Problems
2. The following questions refer to a capital budgeting problem with six projects represented by
a. Write a constraint modeling a situation in which at least two of the projects 1, 3, 5, and 6
must be undertaken.
not both.
e. Revise the requirement in part (d) to accommodate the case in which, when projects 1
automobile engines using the same production line. The cost required to set up the
production line to produce the 4-cylinder connecting rods is $2000, and the cost required to
set up the production line for the 6-cylinder connecting rods is $3500. Manufacturing costs
are $15 for each 4-cylinder connecting rod and $18 for each 6-cylinder connecting rod. There
the line must be set up to run whichever product will be produced that week. Once the line
has been set up, the weekly production capacities are 6000 6-cylinder connecting rods and
otherwise
otherwise
a. Using the decision variables x4 and s4, write a constraint that sets next week’s maximum
b. Using the decision variables x6 and s6, write a constraint that sets next week’s maximum
c. Write a constraint that requires that production be set up for exactly one of the two rods.
6. Hart Manufacturing makes three products. Each product requires manufacturing operations
follows:
department B, and 50 in department C. The profit contributions per unit are $25 for product
b. Solve the linear program formulated in part (a). How much of each product should be
c. After evaluating the solution obtained in part (b), one of the production supervisors noted
that production setup costs had not been taken into account. She noted that setup costs are
$400 for product 1, $550 for product 2, and $600 for product 3. If the solution developed
in part (b) is to be used, what is the total profit contribution after taking into account the
setup costs?
d. Management realized that the optimal product mix, taking setup costs into account, might
be different from the one recommended in part (b). Formulate a mixed-integer linear
program that takes setup costs into account. Management also stated that we should not
consider making more than 175 units of product 1, 150 units of product 2, or 140 units of
product 3.
e. Solve the mixed-integer linear program formulated in part (d). How much of each
product should be produced and what is the projected total profit contribution? Compare
to increase capacity by constructing a new plant in one or more of the following cities:
Detroit, Toledo, Denver, or Kansas City. The estimated annual fixed cost and the annual
The company’s long-range planning group developed forecasts of the anticipated annual
The shipping cost per unit from each plant to each distribution center is as follows:
Distribution Centers
Plant Site Boston Atlanta Houston
Detroit 5 2 3
Toledo 4 3 4
Denver 9 7 5
Kansas City 10 4 2
St. Louis 8 4 3
a. Formulate a mixed integer programming model that could be used to help Martin-Beck
determine which new plant or plants to open in order to satisfy anticipated demand.
b. Solve the model you formulated in part a. What is the optimal cost? What is the optimal
13. The Northshore Bank is working to develop an efficient work schedule for full-time and part-
time tellers. The schedule must provide for efficient operation of the bank including adequate
customer service, employee breaks, and so on. On Fridays the bank is open from 9:00 A.M. to
7:00 P.M. The number of tellers necessary to provide adequate customer service during each
Number Number
Each full-time employee starts on the hour and works a 4-hour shift, followed by a 1-hour
break and then a 3-hour shift. Part-time employees work one 4-hour shift beginning on the
hour. Considering salary and fringe benefits, full-time employees cost the bank $15 per hour
($105 a day), and part-time employees cost the bank $8 per hour ($32 per day).
a. Formulate an integer programming model that can be used to develop a schedule that will
satisfy customer service needs at a minimum employee cost. (Hint: Let xi = number of
full-time employees coming on duty at the beginning of hour i and yi = number of part-
d. After reviewing the solution to part (c), the bank manager realized that some additional
requirements must be specified. Specifically, she wants to ensure that one full-time
employee is on duty at all times and that there is a staff of at least five full-time
employees. Revise your model to incorporate these additional requirements and solve for
16. The Delta Group is a management consulting firm specializing in the health care industry. A
team is being formed to study possible new markets, and a linear programming model has
been developed for selecting team members. However, one constraint the president imposed
is that the team size should be three, five, or seven members. The staff cannot figure out how
to incorporate this requirement in the model. The current model requires that team members
be selected from three departments and uses the following variable definitions:
18. Suppose that management of Valley Cinemas would like to investigate the potential of using
a scheduling system for their chain of multiple-screen theaters. Valley selected a small two-
screen movie theater for the pilot testing and would like to develop an integer programming
model to help schedule the movies. Six movies are available. The first week each movie is
available, the last week each movie can be shown, and the maximum number of weeks that
1 1 2 2
2 1 3 2
3 1 1 1
4 2 4 2
5 3 6 3
6 3 5 3
The overall viewing schedule for the theater is composed of the individual schedules for each
of the six movies. For each movie a schedule must be developed that specifies the week the
movie starts and the number of consecutive weeks it will run. For instance, one possible
schedule for movie 2 is for it to start in week 1 and run for two weeks. Theater policy
requires that once a movie is started, it must be shown in consecutive weeks. It cannot be
stopped and restarted again. To represent the schedule possibilities for each movie, the
For example, x532 = 1 means that the schedule selected for movie 5 to begin in week 3 and
run for two weeks. For each movie, a separate variable is given for each possible schedule.
a. Three schedules are associated with movie 1. List the variables that represent these
schedules.
b. Write a constraint requiring that only one schedule be selected for movie 1.
c. Write a constraint requiring that only one schedule be selected for movie 5.
d. What restricts the number of movies that can be shown in week 1? Write a constraint that
e. Write a constraint that restricts the number of movies selected for viewing in week 3.
20. Dave has $100,000 to invest in 10 mutual fund alternatives with the following restrictions.
For diversification, no more than $25,000 can be invested in any one fund. If a fund is
chosen for investment, then at least $10,000 will be invested in it. No more than two of the
funds can be pure growth funds, and at least one pure bond fund must be selected. The total
amount invested in pure bond funds must be at least as much as the amount invested in pure
growth funds. Using the following expected returns, formulate and solve a model that will
determine the investment strategy that will maximize expected annual return.