Question: A snack food manufacturer buys corn for tortilla chips from two cooperatives, one in Iowa and one in Illinois. The price per unit of the Iowa corn is $7.00 and the price per unit of the Illinois corn is $5.50.

a) Define variables that would tell how many units to purchase from each source.

b) Develop an objective function that would minimize the total cost.

c) The manufacturer needs at least 12000 units of corn. The Iowa cooperative can supply up to 8000 units, and the Illinois cooperative can supply at least 5000 units. Develop constraints for these conditions. Find the number of units purchased and the minimum cost.