Deviation from the Goal
By doing the graphical method or using Lindo to the problem found in Page 1, you would have found that the solution to the problem is
L = 4 and E = 0. This means 400 gallons of latex paint is produced and 0 gallons of enamel paint
Lets look back at each of our goals.
Goal 1 (Overtime Labour)
10 L + 15 E ≤ 40
10 L + 15 E + Y1- – Y1+ = 40
Thus if we evaluate our goal we have
10(4) + 15 (0) = 40 hours
Therefore, our goal has been met exactly. We have not used any overtime labour. There is no deviation from our goal, i.e. Y1- = Y1+= 0
Inserting these values we have:
10(4) + 15 (0) + 0 + 0 = 40 hours
Goal 2 (Profit)
100 L + 100 E ≥ 1000
100 L + 100 E + Y2- – Y2+ = 1000
Evaluating our goal
100(4) + 100(0) = 400
Our goal is a $1000, but we have only achieved $400. Thus, we have fallen short of our goal, by $600 (i.e. $1000 - $400 = $600). Since, we have not exceeded our goal, then Y2+ = 0. The corresponding variable for fallen short of our goal is our slack deviation variable, and thus Y2- = $600.
Therefore inserting these values we have:
100 (4) + 100 (0) + 600 – 0 = 1000
Goal 3 (Enamel Paint Production)
E ≥ 7
E + Y3- – Y3+ = 7
Thus if we evaluate our goal:
Goal 3 = 0
Therefore our goal is 700 gallons of enamel paint, however we are producing 0 gallons of enamel paint. This means we have fallen short of our goal by 700 (i.e. 700 - 0 = 700 enamel paint). We have not exceeded our goal, therefore, Y3+ = 0. We have however, fallen short of goal, which corresponds to the slack variable, Y3- = 7. Remember that the deviation variables are measured in 100 gallons of paint.
Therefore inserting these values we have
0 + 7 – 0 = 7
Here is some additional information:
Objective function
If we look back at our objective function
Min P1Y1+ + P2Y2- + P3Y3-
Let us insert the values we found for the deviation variables
P1(0) + P2(600) + P3(7) = 600 P2 + 7 P3
This equation summarizes the extent to which the goals were met.
Constraints
Let us take a look at our constraints
Constraint 1 (Labour)
10 L + 15 E ≤ 70
Substituting the values
10 (4) + 15 (0) = 40
Therefore the constraint is non-binding and there is a slack of 70 – 40 = 30 hrs. The 30 hrs corresponds the overtime which we did not use (as found in Goal 1).
Constraint 2 (Production Constraint)
L – E ≥ 0
Substituting E and L values
4 – 0 = 4
Therefore this constraint is non-binding and there is an excess of 400 gallons of paint (i.e. 4 – 0 = 4 100-gallons of paint ).
Note: Remember the minimum required was for E and L to be equal or in other words L – E = 0