<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><br><div><div>On Nov 4, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div>So maybe a bit off topic, but I know we have people here you love to<br>argue about such things.<br><br>I have three types of equipment: X, Y, & Z.<br>Given $1.00 I know that in a year a single type X will typically consume<br>14% of that $1, type Y 30%, and type Z 56%. So if I have x Xs, y Ys,<br>and z Zs how do I calculate what percentage of the maintenance budget of<br>N will typically be consumed by type X, Y, and Z?<br></div></blockquote></div><div><br></div><div>More complex problems of this nature, where you're trying to optimize the mix of components in order to minimize/maximize a particular outcome fall into the category of finite math. Any decent community college will offer a class in finite math. Solving such problems is quite straight forward, if somewhat tedious when done by hand.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.sscc.edu/home/jdavidso/MathAdvising/AboutFinite.html">What is Finite Math</a>: "Finite Math" is a catch-all title for a collection of topics that are anything but calculus. The purpose of the course is to give a survey of mathematical analysis techniques used in the working world, but you might also say that this course gives valuable experience at organizing information and then analyzing it. In a larger sense, it's also another way we use math to give people experience at analytical thinking. Business, accounting and computer majors tend to take this course, or are required to by their program.</div><div><br></div><div>Phil</div><div><br></div></body></html>