To determine the pivot column in this simplex tableau, we need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the most negative value in the Z-row (R1) for the non-basic variables.

From the tableau:

• The Z-row is: $-40, -30, 0, 0$.
• The most negative value is $-40$, which is in Column C1 (x).

Thus, C1 (x) is the pivot column.

Would you like an explanation of the next steps, such as finding the pivot row or completing the simplex iteration?

Here are related questions to expand your understanding:

1. What is the role of the pivot column in the simplex method?
2. How do we determine the pivot row in the simplex method?
3. What is the significance of the Z-row in a simplex tableau?
4. How do we interpret slack variables in the context of linear programming?
5. What changes occur in the tableau after a pivot operation?

Tip: Always choose the pivot column by selecting the variable with the most negative coefficient in the Z-row when maximizing.