Linear programming has been used to find the optimal diet (i.e. least cost diet that satisfies a minimum nutrition requirement). The following table shows the cost and nutritional values for 6 different foods.
Bread Milk Cheese Potato Fish Yogurt
Cost 2 3.5 8 1.5 11 1
Protein, g 4 8 7 1.3 8 9.2
Fat, g 1 5 9 0.1 7 1
Carbohydrates, g 15 11.7 0.4 22.6 0 17
Calories 90 120 106 97 130 180
The constraints are: the diet should contain at least 300 calories, not more than 10 grams of protein, not less than 10 grams of carbohydrates, and not less than 8 grams of fat. In addition, the diet should contain at least 0.5 unit of fish and no more than 1 unit of milk.
Reference: https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.3/casmopt/casmopt_optlp_examples03.htm
A. Create a spreadsheet model in Microsoft Excel and solve it using the built in Solver.
B. What is the minimum-cost diet?
