DSC1520/201/1/2018

Tutorial letter 201/1/2018

Quantitative Modelling 1
DSC1520

Semesters 1

Department of Decision Sciences

Solutions to Assignment 1

Bar code
Dear Student
This tutorial letter contains the solutions to the first assignment. Please contact me if you have any questions
or need any help with the next assignment.
Kind regards

Dr Mabe-Madisa
E-mail: mabemgv@unisa.ac.za

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Question 1

To determine the slope of the given line

6 + 3x − 2y = 0

we need to write the given equation in the standard format of a line, namely

y = mx + c.

We therefore need to manipulate the equation so that y is the subject to find the slope m.
Rewriting the equation with y at the left gives

2y = 6 + 3x

or
3
y = 3 + x.
2
The slope of the line
0 = 6 + 3x − 2y
is equal to
3
.
2
[Option 2]

Question 2

P = 100 − 5Q,
so if
Q = 8, P = 60.
1 P 1 60 60
εd = − × =− × = − = −1,5 < −1.
b Q 5 8 40
[Option 1]

Question 3

Given the demand function

P = 60 − 0,2Q
where P and Q are the price and quantity respectively, we have to calculate the arc price elasticity of demand
when the price decreases from R50 to R40.
The arc price elasticity of a demand function P = a − bQ between two prices P1 and P2 is arc elasticity
1 P1 + P2
of demand = − × with b the slope of the demand function and P1 ,P2 and Q1 , Q2 the price and
b Q1 + Q2
quantity demanded. We can now determine Q1 and Q2 by substituting P1 = 50 and P2 = 40 into the
equation. Therefore if P1 = 50 then Q1 = 300 − 5 × 50 = 50 and if P2 = 40 then Q2 = 300 − 5 × 40 = 100.

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 1 P1 + P2
Elasticity of demand = − ×
b Q1 + Q2
1 50 + 40
= − ×
0,2 50 + 100
1 90 −90
= − × = = −3.
0,2 150 30

[Option 3]

Question 4

Equilibrium is the price and quantity where the demand and supply functions are equal.
Thus Pd = Ps or Qd = Qs . If the demand: Q = 50 − 0,1P and supply: Q = −10 + 0,1P then

50 − 0,1P = −10 + 0,1P

−0,2P = −60
P = −60
−0,2 = 300.

To calculate the quantity at equilibrium, we substitute the value of P into the demand or supply function
and calculate Q. Say we use the demand function, then

Q = 50 − 0,1(300)
= 50 − 30
= 20.

The equilibrium price is 300 and the quantity is 20.

[Option 1]

Question 5

To solve the inequality

1 1



−3 (x + 1) + 6 x + 3 ≤ 4 x− 2
−3x − 3 + 6x + 2 ≤ 4x − 2
−3x + 6x − 4x ≤ 3 − 2 − 2
−x ≤ −1
x ≥ 1.

[Option 3]

Question 6

To draw the line

2P = 20 − Q
or
P = 10 − 0,5Q,

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we need two points on the line. Therefore select any two values for P or Q and find the coordinates.
To simplify the calculations, we choose Q = 0 to find

P = 10 − 0,5(0) = 10,

giving the coordinate (0; 10).

We also choose P = 0 to find
0 = 10 − 0,5Q
resulting in
Q = 20.
The second coordinate is (20; 0).
[Option 2]

Question 7

One point is (40; 80). Demand decreases by 3 if price increases by R5, therefore slope is 35 .

Q − 80 = − 35 (P − 40)
Q = −0,6P + 24 + 80
= −0,6P + 104.

[Option 1]

Question 8

A = (0; 952), B = (0; 400), C = (119; 0)

[Option 4]

Question 9

Equilibrium; D = (46; 584)

[Option 2]

Question 10

We need to solve the following system of equations:

x+y+z = 8 (1)
x − 3y = 0 (2)
5y − z = 10 (3)

Make x the subject of equation (2) and z the subject of equation (3):
x = 3y (4)
z = −10 + 5y (5)

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Substitute equation (4) and equation (5) into equation (1):

x+y+z = 8
(3y) + y + (−10 + 5y) = 8
18
y = 9
= 2.

Substitute y = 2 into equation (4) and equation (5):

x = 3y = 3 × 2 = 6

and

z = −10 + 5y = −10 + 5(2) = −10 + 10 = 0

Therefore
x = 6; y = 2
and
z = 0.
The sum is 8.
[Option 4]

Question 11

136 − 4Q = 14 + 5Q
9Q = 122
Qe = 13,56

Pe = 136 − 4Q
= 136 − 4(13,56)
= 81,76.
Producer surplus:
1
Ps = 2 (13,56)(81,78 − 14)
= 459,41.

[Option 1]

Question 12

The system of equations is

10X + 20Y + 30Z ≥ 1 800
30X + 20Y + 40Z ≤ 2 800
20X + 40Y + 25Z ≥ 2 200.

[Option 3]

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Question 13

[Option 2]

Question 14

2x + 6y ≥ 30 (1)
4x + 2y ≥ 20 (2)
y ≥ 2 (3)

B y = 2
C
x
2 x + 6 y = 3 0
4 x + 2 y = 2 0

The corner points of the feasible region are the points A, B, C.

Point A:
The point where the line (2) cuts the y-axis.
Point A is the point (0; 10).
Point B:
The point where lines (1) and (2) intersect, therefore
4x + 2y = 20 and 2x + 6y = 30
−2x + 26 x = 5 − 10
− 10
6 x = −5
x = 3.

Substituting the value of x = 3 into equation (2) gives

y = 10 − 2x
= 10 − 2(3)
= 4.
Point B is the point (3; 4).
Point C is the point where lines (3) and (1) intersect.
y = 2 and 2x + 6y = 30

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Substituting the value of y = 2 into equation (1) gives

2x + 6(2) = 30
18
x = 9
= 9.

Point C is the point (2; 9).

Corner points of feasible Value of Z = 18x + 12y

region
A:x = 0; y = 10 Z = 1,8(0) + 1,2(10) = 12,0
B: x = 3; y = 4 Z = 1,8(3) + 1,2(4) = 10,2 ←Minimum
C: x = 9; y = 2 Z = 1,8(9) + 1,2(2) = 18,6

Minimum of Z is at point B where x = 3, y = 4 with Z = 10,2 .

[Option 2]

Question 15

We need to find the consumer surplus for the demand function

P = 90 − 5Q

when the market price P = 20.

CS = Amount willing to pay − Amount actually paid.
This is determined by calculating the area of the triangle P0 E0 a in the following graph which is equal to
1 1
CS = × base × height = × Q0 (a − P0 )
2 2
with

⊲ P0 the market price,

⊲ Q0 the number of units demanded at price P0 , and

⊲ a the y-intercept of the demand function P = a –bQ.

In general we can summarise the steps of determining the consumer surplus as follows:

1. Calculate Q0 if P0 is given.

2. Draw a rough graph of the demand function.

3. Read the value of a from the demand function – that is the y-intercept of the demand function.

4. Calculate the area of CS = 1/2 × Q0 (a– P0 ).

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y -a x is in te rc e p t A re a = C S
a o f P = a - b Q

E 0
P 0 P = a - b Q

0 Q Q
0

First we need to determine Q from the demand function P = 90 − 5Q if P = 20. That is

20 = 90 − 5Q,

giving
Q = 14.
Draw the demand function by using the point (14; 20) found before and (0; a) = (0; 90).
P

9 0

2 0 P = 9 0 - 5 Q

0 1 4 Q

The value of a is found by substituting Q = 0 into the demand function, that is

P = 90 − b0 = 90.

The consumer surplus is the area of the shaded triangle in the sketch, that is
1
CS = 2 × base × height
1
= 2 × 14 × (90 − 20)
= 490.

The consumer surplus is equal to 490 if the price P = 20.

[Option 2]