MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Mzuzu University
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
MATH 1203 - Business Mathematics II

Test 2
Friday, 27 September, 2024 Time Allowed: 2 hours (10:00 - 12:00)

INSTRUCTIONS

ˆ Write your name, registration number and programme of study on the answer sheet.
Also indicate if you are repeating.

ˆ Check that the paper has 5 questions.

ˆ Answer all questions.

ˆ Show all your working in logical flow and with appropriate notation.

ˆ Calculators may be used.

Name :

Registration Number:

Program: :

Tick One : Repeater Non-Repeater

Question: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
Points: 5 6 13 7 9 10 50
Score:
MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

1. Find AB + AC given that 5

     
5 −3 1 5 −1 1
A= , B= , C=
2 1 4 0 1 2

Solution: We compute AB and AC separately:

    
5 2 1 5 −7 25
AB = =
2 1 4 0 6 10
    
5 2 2 1 −8 −1
AC = =
2 1 1 2 −1 4
Now, adding AB + AC:
     
−7 25 −8 −1 −15 24
AB + AC = + =
6 10 −1 4 5 14

2. For what value(s) of a is the matrix A singular? 6

 
a 1 4
A = 5 1 2
2 4 4

Solution:
The determinant of the matrix is:

a 1 4
det(A) = 5 1 2
2 4 4

Using cofactor expansion along the first row:

1 2 5 2 5 1
det(A) = a −1 +4
4 4 2 4 2 4

Calculate the 2x2 determinants:

det(A) = a(1 · 4 − 2 · 4) − 1(5 · 4 − 2 · 2) + 4(5 · 4 − 2 · 1)

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

det(A) = a(4 − 8) − 1(20 − 4) + 4(20 − 2)

det(A) = −4a − 16 + 4(18)

det(A) = −4a − 16 + 72 = −4a + 56

The inverse of the matrix exists if the determinant is non-zero. Therefore, the matrix
is singular when:

−4a + 56 = 0

Solving for a:

56
a= = 14
4
Thus, the matrix is singular when a = 14.

3. Consider the matrix  

1 3 3
A = 1 4 3 .
1 3 4
Find
(a) The determinant of A. 3

Solution:
     
4 3 1 3 1 4
det A = 1 −3 +3
3 4 1 4 1 3
= 1(16 − 9) − 3(4 − 3) + 3(3 − 4)
= 7 − 3 + 3(−1)
=1

(b) The cofactors of each element of A and hence give the matrix of cofactors. 6

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Solution: The cofactors are

 
4 3
= 16 − 9 = 7
3 4
 
1 3
− = −(4 − 3) = −1
1 4
 
1 4
= 3 − 4 = −1
1 3
 
3 3
− = −(12 − 9) = −3
3 4
 
1 3
=4−3=1
1 4
 
1 3
− =0
1 3
 
3 3
= 9 − 12 = −3
4 3
 
1 3
− =0
1 3
 
1 3
=4−3=1
1 4

Hence the matrix of cofactors is

 
7 −1 −1
−3 1 0
−3 0 1

(c) The adjoint matrix of A. 2

Solution: The adjoint matrix is the transpose of the matrix of cofactors. This
is  
7 −3 −3
−1 1 0
−1 0 1

(d) The inverse matrix A−1 . 2

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Solution: The inverse matrix is

1
A−1 = × Adj(A)
det A 
7 −1 −1
1
= × −3 1 0
1
−3 0 1
 
7 −1 −1
= −3 1
 0
−3 0 1

4. The prices of interdependent commodities satisfy the system

P1 + 3P2 + 3P3 = 32
P1 + 4P2 + 3P3 = 37
P1 + 3P2 + 4P3 = 35
(a) Write the system in matrix form. 2

Solution:     
1 3 3 P1 32
1 4 3 P2  = 37
1 3 4 P3 35

(b) Use the result in Question 3(d) to determine the equilibrium prices P1 , P2 and P3 5
of the commodities.

Solution: Using the inverse, the system can be written in matrix form as:
    
1 3 3 P1 32
1 4 3 P2  = 37
1 3 4 P3 35
The inverse matrix of the coefficient matrix is:
 
7 −3 −3
−1 1 0
−1 0 1
Multiplying this inverse matrix with the right-hand side vector, we get:
      
P1 7 −3 −3 32 8
P2  = −1 1 0   37 = 5
 
P3 −1 0 1 35 3

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Thus, the equilibrium prices are:

P1 = 8, P2 = 5, P3 = 3.

5. A total revenue function may be modeled by T R = aQ + bQ2 .

(a) If T R = 14 when Q = 2 and T R = 9 when Q = 3, write down a pair of simultaneous 3
equations for the parameters a and b.

Solution: The given conditions provide the following system of equations:

2a + 4b = 14
3a + 9b = 9
This can be written in matrix form as:
    
2 4 a 14
=
3 9 b 9

(b) Use Cramer’s rule to solve the equations in part (a) and hence find the total revenue 6
when Q = 1.

Solution: We can solve this system using Cramer’s rule. First, calculate the
determinant of the coefficient matrix A:
2 4
det(A) = = (2)(9) − (4)(3) = 18 − 12 = 6
3 9
Now, find the determinants of the matrices with the right-hand side substituted
for the first and second columns, respectively:
For a:

14 4
det(A)a = = (14)(9) − (4)(9) = 126 − 36 = 90
9 9
For b:

2 14
det(A)b = = (2)(9) − (14)(3) = 18 − 42 = −24
3 9
Using Cramer’s rule:

det(A)a 90 det(A)b −24

a= = = 15, b= = = −4
det(A) 6 det(A) 6

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Thus, the total revenue function is:

T R = 15Q − 4Q2
When Q = 1:

T R = 15(1) − 4(1)2 = 15 − 4 = 11
Therefore, when Q = 1, the total revenue is T R = 11.

6. Maximise 3x + 5y 10
subject to:
x + 2y ≤ 10
3x + y ≤ 10
x ≥ 0, y≥0

Solution:
The constraints define a feasible region in the first quadrant, which can be solved
graphically or analytically by finding the corner points of the feasible region.

Step 1: Finding the corner points

1. x + 2y = 10
Solve for y:
10 − x
y=
2
For x = 0, y = 5.
For y = 0, x = 10.
2. 3x + y = 10
Solve for y:
y = 10 − 3x
For x = 0, y = 10.
10
For y = 0, x = 3
≈ 3.33.

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MATH 1203 Business Mathematics II 27 September, 2024

Step 2: Finding intersection points

To find the intersection of x+2y = 10 and 3x+y = 10, solve the system of equations:

x + 2y = 10

3x + y = 10
Multiply the second equation by 2:

6x + 2y = 20

Now subtract the first equation:

(6x + 2y) − (x + 2y) = 20 − 10

5x = 10 ⇒ x=2
Substitute x = 2 into 3x + y = 10:

3(2) + y = 10 ⇒ y=4

So, the intersection point is (2, 4).

Step 3: Evaluate the objective function at each corner

10


The corners of the feasible region are: (0, 0), (0, 5), (2, 4), 3
,0.
Evaluate 3x + 5y at each point:
- At (0, 0): 3(0) + 5(0) = 0
- At (0, 5): 3(0) + 5(5) = 25
- At (2, 4):
3(2) +
5(4) = 6 + 20 = 26
- At 103
, 0 : 3 103
+ 5(0) = 10

Step 4: Conclusion
The maximum value of 3x + 5y = 26 occurs at (2, 4).
Thus, the solution to the linear programming problem is x = 2 and y = 4, with a
maximum value of 26.

END OF QUESTIONS

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