A hospital emergency room is open 24 hours a day. Nurses report for duty at 1 A.M., 5 A.M., 9 A.M., 1 P.M., 5 P.M., or 9 P.M., and each works an 8-hour shift. Nurses are paid the same, regardless of the shift they work. The following table shows the minimum number of nurses needed during the six periods into which the day is divided. How should the hospital schedule the nurses so that the total staff required for one day€™s operation is minimized?

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SHIFT TIME NURSES NEEDED 1-5 A.M. 5-9 AM. 4 13 17 10 12 3 9A.M.-1 PM. 1-5 P.M. 5-9 PM. 4 9 P.M.-I AM.