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Maximizing the Profit of a Business

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project
In this project your group will solve the follow ing problem :

A manufacturer produces the following two items: computer desks and bookcases. Each item requires
processing in each of two departments. Department A has 55 hours available and department B has 39
hours available each week for production . To manufacture a computer desk requires 4 hours in
department A and 3 hours in department B wh ile a bookcase requires 3 hours in department A and 2
hours in department B. Profits on the items are $72 and $23 respectivel y. If all the units can be sold,
how many of each should be made to maximize profits?
Let X be the number of computer desks that are sold andY be number of bookcases sold .

1.

Write down a linear inequality for the hours used in Department A

2.

Write down a linear inequality for the hours used in Department B

3x +2:; 0:--39
There are two other linear inequalities that must be met. These relate to the fact that the manufacturer
cannot produce negative numbers of items. These inequalities are as follows:

X;;:-:0

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y ;;:.:0
3.

Next, write down the profit funct ion for the sale of X desks and Y bookcases:

P= 72J<tL3~
You now have four linear inequalities and a profit function. These together describe the manufacturing
situation. These together make up what is known mathematically as a li near programming problem.
Write all of the inequalities and the profit funct ion together below. Th is is typically written one on top
of another, with the profit function last.

Y-x+)~~ss

))( +2 _lj 39
'" j .2:--0
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p= 72 -y: t 2) j

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4.

To solve th is prob lem, yo u w ill need to graph the

intersection

of all four inequa lit ies on one

common XY plane. Do this on the grid bel ow. Have the botto m left be the origin, w ith the
horizontal axis representing X and the vert ica l axis represent ing Y.

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5. The above shape shou ld have 4 corners . Find th e coord inates of the ordered pa irs t hat make up
these corners. For the intersection of th e two slanted li nes yo u wil l have to so lve th e 2 by 2
system made up of their equations.

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6. The next th ing to do is to plug eac h of th e po ints you found in part 5 into the profit func ti on to
determine which ordered pa ir gives t he maximu m profi t . Do this and write a sentence
describing how many of each type of furn iture you shou ld bu ild and se ll and what is the
maximum profit you wi ll make .

pL""' ~):, 7__31 +B I)_

-9 (0, 0) ::. 7ll 0) t1) l 0) ~ ()
f'll7 9):- /2li)tLsl~)~/l\
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p l nJo) ~ 72ll)) \-nLo) =-9 ltJ

p l 0 J I ~) ~ 72 0 ) 2 ) I ) ~ LIIL/
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Reflective Writ ing.

Did th is proj ect change the way you thin k about how math can be app lied to the rea l world?
Write one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If t his proj ect did not change the way
you th ink, write how this project gave furt her evidence to sup port your existing op inion about
applying math. Were there skill s used in th is proj ect that can be app lied to other classes? Be
specific.

Project Reflection
The "Maximizing the Profit of <l Business" project really made me think
outside of the box. This project helped me realize that math can be used in many
different ways outside of things such as class and homework. Specifically, I applied
algebraic and basic mathematical functions that impact business sales and planning.
Some results and conclusions I drew from this project include:

t~xercise of logic, ~

comparing and contrasting, trend finding, and other mathematical skills that may be

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app ied in the real world. Overall, l would say this project changed the way l think
about how math can be applied to the real world. It showed me how ultimately
important math can be and how one day l could use some of these skills in a certain
job or career.