A comprehensive, nonmathematical guide to the practical application of linear programming models—for students and professionals in any field
From finding the least-cost method for manufacturing a given product to determining the most profitable use for a given resource, there are countless practical applications for linear programming models. This self-contained book and disk set provides everything you need to know to apply linear programming to real-world situations—how to prepare input, how to interpret output, what to do if the model will not solve, and how to make your results useful and usable—while entrusting the hard-core arithmetic to the user-friendly computer package on disk. Written in clear prose that stays away from the complex mathematics underlying the technique, Introduction to Practical Linear Programming contains:
- A complete introduction to problem structure, assumptions, applications, and other core concepts
- A detailed, step-by-step guide to model construction (from a problem description to a useful model) and interpretation of output
- Linear programming examples and exercises from a range of real-life areas, including agriculture, manufacturing, finance, and advertising
- Important techniques for troubleshooting and error identification
- Procedures for testing how good your model is—how robust are the results?—and more
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This accessible, hands-on resource emphasizes the practical applications of linear programming in a simplified, nontheoretical manner, without requiring knowledge of the underlying mathematics. An introduction to linear programming concepts is followed by a detailed guide to model construction and output interpretation, with special attention paid to negative coefficients. The final portion contains linear programming usages through actual examples, including identifying errors and troubleshooting through problems in linear programming models. Also provides techniques for debugging models and testing for sensitivity to changes.