Kenneth and Patricia Golding spent a career as a husband-and-wife real estate investment partnership in Washington, DC. When they finally retired to a 25-acre farm in northern Virginia’s Fairfax County, they became ardent amateur gardeners. Kenneth planted shrubs and fruit trees, and Patricia spent her hours potting all sizes of plants. When the volume of shrubs and plants reached the point that the Goldings began to think of their hobby in a series vein, they built a greenhouse adjacent to their home and installed heating and watering systems.

Chemical Cost per

Compound Pound

C-30.......$.12

C-92....... .09

D-21....... .11

E-11....... .01

Discussion Questions

1. Formulate an LP problem to determine what blend of the four chemicals will allow Golding to minimize the cost of a 50-lb bag of the fertilizer.

2. Solve to find the best solution.