Business Analytics 2nd Edition James R Evans Chapter 13 problem 7

Implement the linear optimization model that you developed for Burger Office Equipment in Problem 3 in Excel and use Solver to find an optimal solution. Interpret the Solver answer report and identify the binding constraints and verify the values of the slack variables by substituting the optimal solution into the model constraints.

Problem 3:

Burger Office Equipment produces two types of desks, standard and deluxe. Deluxe desks have oak tops and more-expensive hardware and require additional time for finishing and polishing. Standard desks require 70 board feet of pine and 10 hours of labor, whereas deluxe desks require 60 board feet of pine, 18 square feet of oak, and 15 hours of labor. For the next week, the company has 5,000 board feet of pine, 750 square feet of oak, and 400 hours of labor available. Standard desks net a profit of $225, and deluxe desks net a profit of $320. All desks can be sold to national chains such as Staples or Office Depot.

a. Identify the decision variables, objective function, and constraints in simple verbal statements.

b. Mathematically formulate a linear optimization model.