# what math topic is this kind of example part of? or what is needed to understand how to solve it? [closed]

we 100000000 sets/locations. each set has,
A = % chance of finding a cure (there are many different types of cures) for cancer
B = time it takes to extract a cure to caner
C = the optimal % chance (IN RELATION) to time combination

we basically want to have the highest % chance of finding a cure for cancer IN RELATION the lowest time to extract a cure to cancer

We call C the "best set/location to go look for a cure in cancer in"

i tried doing a*b which doesnt make any sense at all, because the outcome would be "highest % chance PLUS highest time" which is not what we want

based on the first posted answer, im trying A/B=C
So 20%/10 VS 50%/10
we get .02 and .05 respectively
so do we want higher or lower? we want umm.. (based on the percent & time given) it looks like we want a higher number
so in those two set, we found the answer.

so the answerer said "there's no way to optimize two separate goals at the same time." i dont understand what im missing here, because didnt i jsut do that?

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## closed as too localized by Michael Greinecker♦, Norbert, Thomas, Noah Snyder, Matt N.Oct 9 '12 at 8:11

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I'm saying you probably can't get both the highest number and the lowest price. You could maximize $a/b$, or $a/\sqrt{b}$, or any number of other possible objectives. –  Robert Israel Oct 1 '12 at 0:18