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Hi John,
While solving for the optimal production plan or shadow prices, Can i simply solve the simultaneous equations using a calculator? Or will i not get full marks if i do so?
Kind Regards,
SleyimIf you mean without drawing a graph, then you will get very few marks if you do not draw the graph.
Firstly, because questions specifically require you to draw a graph, and secondly because without the graph it is impossible to know which two constraint lines to solve.
The reason for this is explained in the free lectures.
Also, (in Section B), never do anything on a calculator without showing your workings – the marks are for proving you understand what you are doing, not for the final answer. Obviously, workings do not matter for Section A, because nobody will look at them.
I mean I will draw the graph and identify the two constraint lines to solve for the optimum production mix. But there are a number of ways of solving the two lines.
Solving the two equations I could do manually (elimination or substitution) or through a scientific calculator.
And thank you for the hint with the requirement for workings, I have always been skipping to the final answer, thats why I want to know in the case of linear programming if the calculator short cut is allowed.
How you solve the equations does not matter.
However you must show your workings.
(If you use your calculator and make one tiny mistake then you get zero marks for that part. However, if you have show the workings and make one tiny mistake then you only lose 1/2 mark because then can see that you knew how to do it.)
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