A hot dog manufacturer wishes to minimize the cost in dollars of producing a low-cost niched product while meeting the dietary guidelines for protein and sodium. Once the model has been run, the surplus variable in the sodium constraint has a value of 1300 milligrams. The best interpretation of this outcome is:
A) The value of the sodium in a hot dog is 1300.
B) The amount of sodium in a single hot dog should be 1300 milligrams.
C) The minimum cost hot dog has 1300 milligrams more sodium than required.
D) A hot dog should have at least 1300 milligrams of sodium.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The surplus variable in the sodium constraint indicates that the minimum cost hot dog has 1300 milligrams more sodium than required by the dietary guidelines. Therefore, option C is the correct interpretation. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they make assumptions about the absolute value of sodium in a hot dog, which cannot be determined from the given information.

A Hot Dog Manufacturer Wishes to Minimize the Cost in Dollars