MATH 451
Shadow Price
Introduction
With changes to the constraints in a decision model, the profit will vary. The profit from one
variable may increase, while the other decreases. The change in the profit can be repr
...
MATH 451
Shadow Price
Introduction
With changes to the constraints in a decision model, the profit will vary. The profit from one
variable may increase, while the other decreases. The change in the profit can be represented as
an amount per hour. The change is the shadow price.
Learning Materials
What is shadow price?
By definition, the shadow price is the magnitude of the change in the objective function value for
Profit and Shadow Price
Realistically, the profit will not continue to increase by the shadow price without limits.
Increasing and Decreasing the RHS
Increasing the right-hand side (RHS) of a ≤ constraint endlessly will eventually make it a
Example
In a furniture store problem:
Maximize profit = $7T + $5C
subject to constraints
3T + 4C ≤ 2,400 (carpentry time) binding
2T + 1C ≤ 1,000 (painting time) binding
C ≤ 450 (maximum chairs allowed)
T ≥ 100 (minimum tables required)
T and C ≥ 0 (nonnegativity)
Optimal Solution
The optimal solution is to produce 320 tables and 360 chairs for a maximum profit of $4,040.
.
Sensitivity Report
Here is the Sensitivity Report for the furniture store problem.
Understanding the Results
The shadow price for the carpentry hours of $0.60 measures the impact on profit for a unit
Revised Scenario
Revise the RHS constraint for the carpentry hours to increase from 2,400 to 2,600 hours. The
What happens when RHS exceeds the allowable increase in the optimal solution?
Has the constraint become a redundant constraint?
In the given Constraints portion of the sensitivity report, what is the shadow price for testing
hours?
6.25
27.5
0
200
Increasing the RHS of a ≤ constraint __________ will make it a redundant constraint.
endlessly
slightly
relatively
moderately
The shadow price remains valid if the RHS changes remain in the __________. (Choose 2)
allowable increase and decrease values
same scope
allowable range
constraints
A shadow price of $0.30 for an assembly constraint indicates the __________ will increase $0.30
for each additional hour of assembly. (Choose 2)
profit
objective function value
objective function coefficient (OFC)
total cost
Which of the following is true about the shadow price for a resource?
It measures the range of variability of a resource's constraint.
It measures the impact on profit for a one-unit change in a resource's usage.
It measures the allowable increase in a resource.
It measures the maximum usage possible for a resource.
What is the allowable increase for the assembly hours in the given Constraints portion of the
sensitivity report?
560
200
400
350
Question 2
Additional nonelectronic components add __________ contribution to the profit.
a significant
little
zero
an insignificant
The shadow price is the __________ of the change in the objective function value for a 1-unit
increase in the RHS of a constraint.
amount
unimportance
insignificance
total
Increasing the RHS of a ≤ constraint __________ will make it a redundant constraint.
slightly
relatively
moderately
infinitely
If the right-hand side (RHS) of a constraint exceeds the allowable increase in the optimal
solution, what happens to the shadow price?
It does not change.
It increases up to the change in the constraint's RHS value.
It is reduced by the amount of the excess in the constraint's RHS value.
It becomes 0.
If a resource has a shadow price of $3.60 and the use of that resource is increased by 100 hours,
which is within the acceptable range, what would be the profit increase?
$36.00
$100.00
$3,600.00
$360.00
Which of the following best describes shadow price?
The magnitude of the change in the objective function value for a one-unit increase in the
right-hand side (RHS) value of a constraint
The effect of the optimum amount used of a resource in relation to the right-hand side (RHS)
constraint
The magnitude of a resource constraint in relation to the cost of one unit of the resource
The alternative price derived from a change in the objective function value for a one-unit
increase in the right-hand side (RHS) value of a constraint
A change in profit can be represented as __________.
an amount per resource
a misuse of a constraint
only an increase
a resource use over a constraint's right-hand side (RHS) value
Summary
The shadow price is the change in the objective function value when there is a change to a righthand side (RHS) constraint by 1 unit. The shadow price from the optimal solution is valid for a
range of change in the RHS constraint’s value.
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