Wyoming Electric Coop owns a steam-turbine power-generating plant. Because Wyoming is rich in coal deposits, the plant generates its steam from coal. This, however, may result in emission that does not meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. EPA regulations limit sulfur dioxide discharge to 2000 parts per million per ton of coal burned and smoke discharge from the plant stacks to 20 lb per hour. The Coop receives two grades of pulverized coal, C1 and C2, for use in the steam plant. The two grades are usually mixed together before burning. For simplicity, it can be assumed that the amount of sulfur pollutant discharged (in parts per million) is a weighted average of the proportion of each grade used in the mixture. The following data are based on consumption of 1 ton per hour of each of the two coal grades. Sulfur discharge Smoke discharge in lb per hour 2.1 0.9 Steam generated in lb per hour 12,000 9,000 Coal grade in parts per lion C1 C2 1800 2100

(a) Determine the optimal ratio for mixing the two coal grades.

(b) Determine the effect of relaxing the smoke discharge limit by 1lb on the amount of generated steam per hour.