Edexcel FD1 2024 June — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFD1 (Further Decision 1)
Year2024
SessionJune
TopicLinear Programming

7. A maximisation linear programming problem in \(x , y\) and \(z\) is to be solved using the Simplex method. The tableau after the 1st iteration is shown below.
b.v.\(x\)\(y\)\(z\)\(s _ { 1 }\)\(S _ { 2 }\)\(S _ { 3 }\)Value
\(s _ { 1 }\)0\(- \frac { 1 } { 2 }\)\(\frac { 3 } { 2 }\)1\(- \frac { 1 } { 2 }\)030
\(x\)1\(\frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(- \frac { 1 } { 4 }\)0\(\frac { 1 } { 4 }\)010
\(S _ { 3 }\)01100126
\(P\)0\(- \frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(- \frac { 11 } { 4 }\)0\(\frac { 3 } { 4 }\)030
  1. State the column that contains the pivot value for the 1st iteration. You must give a reason for your answer.
  2. By considering the equations represented in the above tableau, formulate the linear programming problem in \(x , y\) and \(z\) only. State the objective and list the constraints as inequalities with integer coefficients.
  3. Taking the most negative number in the profit row to indicate the pivot column, perform the 2nd iteration of the Simplex algorithm, to obtain a new tableau, T . Make your method clear by stating the row operations you use.
    1. Explain, using T, how you know that an optimal solution to the original linear programming problem has not been found after the 2nd iteration.
    2. State the values of the basic variables after the 2nd iteration. A student attempts the 3rd iteration of the Simplex algorithm and obtains the tableau below.
      b.v.\(x\)\(y\)\(z\)\(s _ { 1 }\)\(S _ { 2 }\)\(\mathrm { S } _ { 3 }\)Value
      z001\(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\)\(- \frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 43 } { 2 }\)
      \(x\)100\(\frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 1 } { 8 }\)\(- \frac { 1 } { 8 }\)\(\frac { 57 } { 4 }\)
      \(y\)010\(- \frac { 1 } { 2 }\)\(\frac { 1 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 3 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 9 } { 2 }\)
      \(P\)010\(\frac { 5 } { 4 }\)\(\frac { 1 } { 8 }\)\(\frac { 7 } { 8 }\)\(\frac { 361 } { 4 }\)
  4. Explain how you know that the student's attempt at the 3rd iteration is not correct.