Textbook Problem

General Ford produces cars in Los Angeles and Detroit and has a warehouse in Atlanta. The company supplies cars to customers in Houston and Tampa. The costs of shipping a car between various points are listed in the file P05_54.xlsx, where a blank means that a shipment is not allowed. Los Angeles can produce up to 1600 cars, and Detroit can produce up to 3200 cars. Houston must receive 1800 cars, and Tampa must receive 2900 cars.

1. a. Determine how to minimize the cost of meeting demands in Houston and Tampa.
2. b. Modify the answer to part a if no shipments through Atlanta are allowed.