Try to find the rational roots. If p/q is a root (p and q having no factors in common), then p must divide 4 and q must divide 1 (the coefficient of x^3).
The rational roots can thuis be +/1, +/2 and +/4. If you insert these values you find that the roots are at
x = 1, x = 2 and x = -2. This means that
x^3-x^2-4x+4 = A(x - 1)(x - 2)(x + 2)
A = 1, as you can see from equation the coefficient of x^3 on both sides.
Answer: The company should produce 7 skateboards and 16 rollerskates in order to maximize profit.
Step-by-step explanation: Let the skateboards be represented by s and the rollerskates be represented by r. The available amount of labour is 30 units, and to produce a skateboard requires 2 units of labor while to produce a rollerskate requires 1 unit. This can be expressed as follows;
2s + r = 30 ------(1)
Also there are 40 units of materials available, and to produce a skateboard requires 1 unit while a rollerskate requires 2 units. This too can be expressed as follows;
s + 2r = 40 ------(2)
With the pair of simultaneous equations we can now solve for both variables by using the substitution method as follows;
In equation (1), let r = 30 - 2s
Substitute for r into equation (2)
s + 2(30 - 2s) = 40
s + 60 - 4s = 40
Collect like terms,
s - 4s = 40 - 60
-3s = -20
Divide both sides of the equation by -3
s = 6.67
(Rounded up to the nearest whole number, s = 7)
Substitute for the value of s into equation (1)
2s + r = 30
2(7) + r = 30
14 + r = 30
Subtract 14 from both sides of the equation
r = 16
Therefore in order to maximize profit, the company should produce 7 skateboards and 16 rollerskates.
