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Algebra 1

2.15.3 Solving Problems to Satisfy Multiple Constraints Simultaneously

Algebra 12.15.3 Solving Problems to Satisfy Multiple Constraints Simultaneously

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Activity

Your teacher will give you either a problem card or a data card. Do not show or read your card to your partner.

If your teacher gives you the data card:

  1. Silently read the information on your card.
  2. Ask your partner, “What specific information do you need?” and wait for your partner to ask for information. Only give information that is on your card. (Do not figure out anything for your partner!)
  3. Before telling your partner the information, ask, “Why do you need to know (that piece of information)?”
  4. Read the problem card and solve the problem independently.
  5. Share the data card and discuss your reasoning.

If your teacher gives you the problem card:

  1. Silently read your card and think about what information you need to answer the question.
  2. Ask your partner for the specific information that you need.
  3. Explain to your partner how you are using the information to solve the problem.
  4. When you have enough information, share the problem card with your partner, and solve the problem independently.
  5. Read the data card and discuss your reasoning.

Pause here so your teacher can review your work. Ask your teacher for a new set of cards and repeat the activity, trading roles with your partner.

1.

Use the graphing tool or technology outside the course to help you determine the correct solution. Desmos tool below.

Why Should I Care?

A person holds a tablet displaying a list of snack requirements and corresponding equations, including ingredient types, cost, weight, calories, and protein content, on a red background.

Coming up with snack mixes is not as simple as just combining ingredients for the company TERANGA. They must meet a series of requirements to make sure the snack mix is affordable and healthy.

In this image, you can see the requirements of each snack mix translated into linear inequalities. TERANGA's team can use the linear inequalities to know exactly what combination of fruits and nuts to put into a mix that will not only be tasty, but will also be nutritious and affordable. Plus, the mix will make the company a nice profit.

Self Check

Which of the following ordered pairs falls within the solution set to the system of inequalities?

5 x + 2 y > 5

4 x + 3 y < 27

  1. ( 1 , 0 )
  2. ( 2 , 5 )
  3. ( 0 , 9 )
  4. ( 3 , 5 )

Additional Resources

Solve Applications of Systems of Inequalities

When we use variables other than xx and yy to define an unknown quantity, we must change the names of the axes of the graph as well.

Example

Use the following information to answer 1 - 4.

Omar needs to eat at least 800 calories before going to his team practice. All he wants is hamburgers, hh, and cookies, cc, and he doesn’t want to spend more than $5. At the hamburger restaurant near his college, each hamburger has 240 calories and costs $1.40. Each cookie has 160 calories and costs $0.50.

1. Write a system of inequalities to model this situation.

Solution

Let hh equal the number of hamburgers.

Let cc equal the number of cookies.

To find the system of equations, translate the information.

  • The calories from hamburgers at 240 calories each, plus the calories from cookies at 160 calories each must be 800 or more. 240h+160c800240h+160c800
  • The amount spent on hamburgers at $1.40 each, plus the amount spent on cookies at $0.50 each must be no more than $5.00. 1.40h+0.50c51.40h+0.50c5
  • The number of hamburgers must be greater than or equal to 0. h0h0
  • The number of cookies must be greater than or equal to 0. c0c0
  • We have our system of equations. {240h+160c8001.40h+0.50c5h0c0{240h+160c8001.40h+0.50c5h0c0

2. Graph the system.

Solution

Since h0h0 and c0c0 all solutions will be in the first quadrant. As a result, our graph shows only quadrant one.

  • To graph 240h+160c80240h+160c80, graph 240h+160c=800240h+160c=800 as a solid line. Choose (0,0)(0,0) as a test point. Since it does not make the inequality true, shade (red) the side that does not include the point (0,0)(0,0). Graph of a system of two linear inequalities on a coordinate plane.
  • Graph 1.40h+0.50c51.40h+0.50c5. The boundary line is 1.40h+0.50c=51.40h+0.50c=5. We test (0,0)(0,0) and it makes the inequality true. We shade the side of the line that includes (0,0)(0,0).
  • The solution of the system is the region of the graph that is shaded the darkest. The boundary line sections that border the darkly shaded section are included in the solution as are the points on the xx-axis from (5,0)(5,0) to (10,0)(10,0).

3. Could he eat 3 hamburgers and 1 cookie?

Solution

To determine if 3 hamburgers and 1 cookie would meet Omar’s criteria, we see if the point (3,2)(3,2) is in the solution region. It is, so Omar might choose to eat 3 hamburgers and 1 cookie.

4. Could he eat 2 hamburgers and 4 cookies?

Solution

To determine if 2 hamburgers and 4 cookies would meet Omar’s criteria, we see if the point (2,4)(2,4) is in the solution region. It is, so Omar might choose to eat 2 hamburgers and 4 cookies.

We could also test the possible solutions by substituting the values into each inequality.

Try it

Solve Applications of Systems of Inequalities

Use the following information for 1 - 4.

Philip’s doctor tells him he should add at least 1,000 more calories per day to his usual diet. Philip wants to buy protein bars, pp, that cost $1.80 each and have 140 calories and juice, jj, that costs $1.25 per bottle and has 125 calories. He doesn’t want to spend more than $12.
1.

Write a system of inequalities that models this situation.

2.

Use the graphing tool or technology outside the course. Graph the system of inequalities from question 1 using the Desmos tool below.

3.

Can he buy 3 protein bars and 5 bottles of juice?

4.

Can he buy 5 protein bars and 3 bottles of juice?

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