Suppose that it takes 12 units of carbohydrates and 8 units of protein to satisfy Jacob's minimum weekly requirements. A particular type of meat contains 2 units of carbohydrates and 2 units of protein per pound. A particular cheese contains 3 units of carbohydrates and 1 unit of protein per pound. The meat costs $3.70 per pound and the cheese costs $2.60 per pound. How many pounds of each are needed in order to minimize the cost and still meet the minimum requirements? What is the minimum cost?​

a. The number of pounds of the meat required is 3 pounds and the number of pounds of cheese required is 2 pounds.

b. $ 16.7

Step-by-step explanation:

a. How many pounds of each are needed in order to minimize the cost and still meet the minimum requirements?

Let c represent the carbohydrate units and p the protein units.

For the meat portion M, we have 2 units of carbohydrates and 2 units of protein per pound. So, M = 2c + 2p

For the cheese portion K, we have 3 units of carbohydrates and 1 units of protein per pound. So, K = 3c + p.

Let x be the number of pounds of meat required and y be the number of cheese pounds required. The total number of pounds required is T

So, we have xM + yK = x(2c + 2p) + y(3c + p)

= 2xc + 2xp + 3yc + yp

= 2xc + 3yc + 2xp + yp

= (2x + 3y)c + (2x + y)p

Since the required number of units, R is 12 units of carbohydrates and 8 units of protein, we have R = 12c + 8p

Since T = R, we have

(2x + 3y)c + (2x + y)p = 12c + 8p

Equating coefficients, we have

2x + 3y = 12 (1) and 2x + y = 8 (2)

Subtracting (2) from (1), we have

2x + 3y = 12 (1)

-

2x + y = 8 (2)

2y = 4

y = 4/2

y = 2

Substituting y = 2 into (2), we have

2x + y = 8

2x + 2 = 8

2x = 8 - 2

2x = 6

x = 6/2

x = 3

Since x = 3 and y = 2

The number of pounds of the meat required is 3 pounds and the number of pounds of cheese required is 2 pounds.

What is the minimum cost?​

Since meat costs $3.70 per pound and the cheese costs $2.60 per pound and we have 3 pounds of meat and 2 pounds of cheese, the total cost of meat is C = $3.70/pound × 3 pounds = $ 11.1.

The total cost of cheese is C' = $2.60/pound × 2 pounds = $ 5.2.

So, the minimum cost C" = C + C' = $ 11.1 + $ 5.2 = $ 16.7