Sweeping several order quantities shows how the ordering and holding terms combine into a total-cost U. The marked minimum is recomputed from the exact EOQ instance.

highlighted = computed this step

Sweep Order Quantities

The total costs are 17, 10, 8, 10, and 17. Motivation: sweeping fixed quantities shows the trade-off without relying on a curve sketch.

total row is recomputed at each Q\text{total row is recomputed at each }Q
EOQ cost tableOrdering, holding, and total costs are recomputed at the pinned order quantities.EOQ cost tableabcdeQ2481632ordering168421holding124816total171081017

Total Cost U

The minimum shown is 8 at order quantity 8. Interpretation: the total cost first falls as ordering cost drops, then rises as holding cost grows.

Q=8C(Q)=8Q^*=8\quad C(Q^*)=8
EOQ total costEOQ total costtotal cost; order quantity Q and annual costSegments interpolate between exact evaluated points; marked points are recomputed.2481632024681012141618Q*=8 C=8

Diagram note

Honesty note: EOQ plot segments interpolate between exact evaluated points; only the marked points are recomputed. Pixel positions are rounded for layout; every number shown is exact.

the U shape is drawn through exact evaluated points\text{the U shape is drawn through exact evaluated points}
EOQ total costEOQ total costtotal cost; order quantity Q and annual costSegments interpolate between exact evaluated points; marked points are recomputed.2481632024681012141618Q*=8 C=8