Chapter 7 – Integer Linear Programming
55. Given the following all-integer linear program:
Max 15x1 + 2x2
s. t. 7x1 + x2 < 23
3x1 – x2 < 5
x1, x2 > 0 and integer
a. Solve the problem as an LP, ignoring the integer constraints.
b. What solution is obtained by rounding up fractions greater than or equal to 1/2? Is this the optimal integer solution?
c. What solution is obtained by rounding down all fractions? Is this the optimal integer solution? Explain.
d. Show that the optimal objective function value for the ILP is lower than that for the optimal LP.
e. Why is the optimal objective function value for the ILP problem always less than or equal to the corresponding LP’s
optimal objective function value? When would they be equal? Comment on the MILP’s optimal objective function
compared to the corresponding LP & ILP.
56. A business manager for a grain distributor is asked to decide how many containers of each of two grains to purchase to
fill its 1,600 pound capacity warehouse. The table below summarizes the container size, availability, and expected profit
per container upon distribution.
a. Formulate as a linear program with the decision variables representing the number of containers purchased of each
grain. Solve for the optimal solution.
b. What would be the optimal solution if you were not allowed to purchase fractional containers?
c. There are three possible results from rounding an LP solution to obtain an integer solution:
(1) the rounded optimal LP solution will be the optimal IP solution;
(2) the rounded optimal LP solution gives a feasible, but not optimal IP solution;
(3) the rounded optimal LP solution is an infeasible IP solution.
For this problem (i) round down all fractions; (ii) round up all fractions; (iii) round off (to the nearest integer) all fractions
(NOTE: Two of these are equivalent.) Which result above (1, 2, or 3) occurred under each rounding method?