Quantitative Analysis for Management, 13/e

7.3 Graphical Solution to an LP Problem

The graphical method works only when there are two decision variables, but it provides valuable insight into how larger problems are structured.

The easiest way to solve a small LP problem such as that of the Flair Furniture Company is with the graphical solution approach. The graphical procedure is useful only when there are two decision variables (such as number of tables to produce, T, and number of chairs to produce, C) in the problem. When there are more than two variables, it is not possible to plot the solution on a two-dimensional graph, and we must turn to more complex approaches. But the graphical method is invaluable in providing us with insights into how other approaches work. For that reason ...