Each nurse works 8 consecutive hours at the Beaver Medical Center. The center has the following staffing requirements for each 4-hour work period.
Work Period Nurses Needed
1 (7-11)..........................................40
2 (11-3) ..........................................20
3 (3-7)............................................30
4 (7-11)..........................................40
5 (11-3)..........................................20
6 (3-7)............................................10
(a) If y1 represents the number of nurses starting in period 1, y2 the number starting in period 2, and so on, write the linear programming problem that will minimize the total number of nurses needed. (Note that the nurses who begin work in period 6 work periods 6 and 1 for their 8-hour shift.)
(b) Solve the problem in (a).
Use the simplex method, Excel, or some other technology.