FORM FOUR

CHAPTER 7

LINEAR PROGRAMMING
Linear programming is the process of taking various linear
inequalities relating to a situation and finding the best value
obtainable under those conditions

Linear inequalities

An inequality still holds if;

i. The same number is added to or subtracted from both sides.

ii. both sides are multiplied or divided by the same positive
number

However, multiplying or dividing both sides by the same negative

number reverses the direction of the inequality.

Forming linear inequalities

Example 1

James is three years older than his sister Lina. In six years time, the
sum of their ages will be less than 40.Find all the inequalities in this
situation.

Solution

Let Lina’s age be x years.

In six years time, we add 6 years to each one of them

James – x + 3

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Lina- x

(x+ 3+ 6) + (x+ 6) ˂ 40

Adding six years.

Opening the brackets.
x + 3+ 6 + x+ 6 ˂ 40  Collecting the like terms.
2x + 15 ˂ 40  Subtracting 15 both
sides.
2x 25
2
˂ 2
12.5  Dividing by 2 both sides.

x ˂ 12.5

The inequalities are;

x ˂ 12.5

x ˃ 0 (none of them is zero years or less than zero).

Example 2

The sum of two consecutive integers 15 less than 18 and their

product is 72. Describe all possible linear inequalities in this section.

Solution

Let the integers be a and b respectively.

a˃ 0
 The numbers cannot be zero or
b˃0 less than zero.

a + b ˂ 18
a X b ≤ 72

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Example 3

The length of a rectangular house is greater than the width by 3m. If

the house has a perimeter of 40m. Form all the possible inequalities
in this section.

Solution

Let the width be x

p = 40
40

x+3

If the width is x, then the length is x + 3 and the perimeter is the

distance all round.

So, P= 2L + 2W where L = length

w= width

2(x + 3) + 2(x) ≤ 40
 Opening the brackets.
2x + 6 + 2x ≤ 40  Combining the x
together.
4x + 6 ≤ 40
 Subtracting 6 in both
4x ≤ 40 -6 sides.
4 x 36  Dividing by 4 both
≤
4 4 sides.
x≤9

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Possible inequalities

x˃ o ( The width cannot be zero or negative)

x≤9

Exercises

1. Chesang has 10 more goats than Walumbe.Altogether, they

own not less than 60 goats, with Walumbe’s goats numbering
more than a third of the total. By choosing a letter to represent
the number of Walumbe’s goats, write all inequalities for the
information.
2. Miriam wishes to buy x bowls and y plates. The cost of a bowl
Shs. 20 and that of a plate sh. 48.She has sh. 384 to spend on
not more than 7 items. Form all the inequalities representing
the situation.
3. Further exercises on Advancing maths
Book 4
Page 98
Exercise 7.3

Solution of Linear Inequalities

Linear inequalities are solved by first manipulating each of the
given situations separately.

Example 1
Mary is twice as old as her sister Jane, who is not less than five
years old. The sum of their ages is not more than 30 years.
Given that Jane is x years old, form all the inequalities in x to

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 represent the above information and hence find the range of
values of x satisfying these inequalities.

Solution

Let Jane’s age be x

Mary – 2x
Jane – X

Jane’s age is not less than 5 years.

So, x ≥ 5------------ (i)

x + 2x ≤ 30 ------------
 (sum of their ages is not
more than 30)
Solving;
x + 2x ≤ 30
10 (Adding the x)
3x 30
3
≤ 3
(Dividing both sides by 3)

x ≤ 10 ----------(ii)

Combining (i) and (ii)

x ≥ 5 and x ≤10

X≤ x≤ 10

Example 2
Solve the inequality

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 2( x—3) ≤ 4(x-1)

Solution
2(x-3) ≤ 4(x-1)
 Opening the brackets both sides.
2x -6 ≤ 4x -4  collecting the like terms
-6 + 4 ≤ 4x -2x  adding and subtracting
respectively
−2
2
≤ 22x  dividing both sides by 2

-1 ≤ x

Solution by graphing
In order to represent an inequality, we must first identify the
boundary line.

The line is drawn solid if the boundary is included in the required

region, or broken if the boundary is not included.

In order to identify the required, we pick any point, not on the line
and substitute its coordinate in the given inequality to test whether
is satisfies the inequality or not. We then shade the unwanted
region.

Example

Use graphical method to solve simultaneously, the inequalities

X≥0
Y≥0
x + y ≤4
x + 2y ˂ 6

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Solution

The required boundary lines are x = 0, y = 0, x + y =4, x + 2y =6

On, the same axes, we draw the boundary lines, one at a time and
shade the unwanted regions.

x = 0 (solid line) and shade x ≥ 0

y = 0 (solid line) and shade x ≥ 0
x + y = 4 (solid line) and shade x + y ≤ 4
x + 2y = 6 (broken line) and shade x + 2y ˂ 6

x + y =4

x 1 2 0
y 3 2 4

x + 2y =6

x 0 6 2
y 3 0 2

Get the values of x and y

Then plot the graph on the same axes

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 y- axis

Exercise on page 96 of advancing maths

Book 4
Exercise 7.2
KLB maths book 4
Page 170
Exercise 7.2

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OPTIMISATION

Solutions to problems in the last section consisted of several

possibilities. In this section, identification of one or more possible
solutions that will meet the set required is discussed.

When the possibilities are many, this method of determining the

solution by calculation becomes tedious. An alternative method is
therefore needed. This involves drawing the graph of the function we
wish to maximise or minimise the objective function.

This function is usually of the form’

ax + by where a and b are constants

The determination of the minimum or the maximum value of the

objective function ax + by is known as optimisation.

In general, obtaining solutions to problems involves;

i. Forming the inequalities satisfying given conditions

ii. Formulating the objective function
iii. Graphing the inequalities
iv. Optimising the objective function

The whole of this process is called linear programming.

Example 1

Use graphical method to solve the inequalities

X ≥ 0, y ≥ 0, y -2x ˃ 5 and 6y + 10x ≤ 60

And find;

a) The maximum value for z = 2x + 4y

b) The maximum value for z =3x + 2y

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Solution

on the same axes plot the graphs of x ≥ o , y ≥ 0, y -2x ˃5 and 6y +

10x ≤ 60

y – 2x =5

x 0 -2
y 5 1

6y + 10x = 60

x 0 6
y 10 0

x =0 (y- axis)

y =0 (x – axis)

i) Assuming the values of x and replace in the equation. e.g. let

x be 0 then the value of y is;
y – 2x =5
y – (2x0) =5
Y-0 =5
y =5
a) draw the line 2x + 4y = z -----------L1

X 0 6
Y 3 0
b) draw the line 3x + 2y =z --------- L2
Where z is an arbitrary constant

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 a) The minimum value of 2x + 4y is at the lowest point (0 ,0),
thus

2x + 4y replace x = 0 for (0, 0)

y=0
(2 x 0) + (4 x 0)
=0
Minimum value = 0

b) The maximum value of 3x + 2y is at the maximum possible

point at ( 1.4 , 7.6)

3x + 2y
3(1.4) + 2(7.6)
5.2 + 15.2

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 = 20. 4

Maximum value is 20.4

Example
Nzivo ears money by crafting and selling wooden toys. He
makes two kinds of toys: trains, from which he makes a
profit of sh. 150 each: and trucks from which he makes profit
of Shs 100 each. To satisfy the demand he must produce at
least 3 trains and 2 trucks each day. At least one fourth of
the toys he produces must be trucks. He can produce not
more than 12 toys in a day. He can sell all that he produces.

a) Write down four inequalities from the information

b) By drawing graphs, find now how many of each kind of
toy Nzivo should make each day to maximize his profits.

Solution
Let x = number of trains made daily
y = number of trucks
a) x ≥ 3 ---------(i) at least 3 trains
Y ≥2 ----------- (ii) at least 2 trucks
x + y ≤ 12 ------ (iii) maximum number of toys is 12

1 (12)
X ≤ 3y --------- (iv) at least one fourth of the toys 4 =3

The graph is plotted

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 Plot x =3
y=2 (solid lines)
x + y = 12
x = 3y
Assuming the values of x to obtain y
x + y = 12

For example if x = 4
X 4 6 8 x + y =12 (replacing x)
Y 8 6 4 4 + y =12 solving for y
y =12 -4
y =8

x =3y

X 0 3 6
Y 0 1 2

The objective function is 150x + 100 y

Using the vertices of the possible solutions (R) as shown in the

graph;
Corner points give the following coordinates
(3, 2)
(3, 9)
(9, 3)

Replacing the coordinate in the objective function

150x + 100y
(3, 2)
i. Substitute the values of x and y and solve

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 (150 x 3) + (100 x 2)
450 + 200
=650
(3, 2) gives the lowest value hence minimum point

(3, 9)
(150 x 3) + (100x 9)
450 + 900
=1350

(9, 3)
150 x 9) + (100 x 3)
1350 + 300
=1650
(9, 3) gives the highest value then to maximize on his profit he
should sell 9 trains and 2 trucks.

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 Exercises
1. A carpenter makes two types of chairs for Excel secondary
school. To make a type a chair requires 6 men – hours
whereas a type B chair requires 4 men – hours. The cost of
material for type A is sh 120 and that of type B is sh 100. The
total weekly cost of material for all chairs should not exceed
sh 6000. the carpenter has to abide by the following
conditions;
i. A contract to supply 15 of type A and 10 of type B per
week has to be fulfilled
ii. Only 300 man –hours are available each week

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 a) Form all the inequalities satisfying these conditions by letting x
and y represents the number of chairs per week for type A and
B.
b) Represent this information on the grid provided and show the
required region by shading out the unwanted.
c) If the profit per chair on type A is sh. 50 and that of type B is sh.
60, determine the maximum values of x and y.
d) Calculate the maximum profit.

Further exercises
Ref: advancing maths book 4
Page 102 -103
Exercise 7.5

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