QUESTION: Develop a linear programming model to minimize the total dollars needed to be invested now to meet the expansion cash needs in the next 8 years. Hint: this is the objective function. Use Excel Solver, solving method: Simplex LP. See problem below.

Your corporation has just approved an 8-year expansion plan to grow its market share. The plan requires an influx of cash in each of the 8 years. Management wants to develop a financial plan to ensure the cash needed for the expansion will be available at the beginning of each of the 8 years.

The corporation has the following investment options:

Security	Price per unit	Return Rate (%)	Years to Maturity
1	$1,200	10.255	5
2	$1,000	6.7550	6
3	$1,175	12.110	7
Savings Account		5.500

Each unit of security 1, 2, and 3 guarantees to pay $1,000 at maturity. Investments in these securities must take place only at the beginning of year 1 and will be held until maturity. Any funds not invested in securities will be invested in a savings account that pays the annual interest rates noted above.

The following table summarizes the cash needs for the expansion plan for each of the 8 years:

Year 1 = $250,000	Year 5 = $295,000
Year 2 = $300,000	Year 6 = $310,000
Year 3 = $225,000	Year 7 = $280,000
Year 4 = $235,000	Year 8 = $305,000