A Short Course in Linear Programming
Lesson 1. What is LP?
First, please go and look at each of the following (just
browse; bookmark, and you can go back later, as needed).
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Mathematical
Programming Glossary, starting with the Linear
programming entry. Look at the following entries (examples of LPs):
Also look at the entry for polyhedron,
and browse the supplements, including the Nature
of Mathematical Programming to get a "big picture".
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LP
FAQ - look at some of the questions and answers to get a sense
about LP.
Second, read at least one of the following introductions.
Third, solve
instances of the diet problem and think about the following questions.
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Why does the number of foods in a min-cost diet seem to be less than or
equal to the number of binding nutrient requirements?
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How can I evaluate a new food? For example, suppose I am a farmer with
various livestock and the diet tells me what feeds to mix. A feed salesman
comes along and offers me a new feed, with various nutrients in it. How
can I use my solution to determine whether this new feed should be used
to lower my total cost?
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How can I evaluate a pill substitute? For example, suppose a pill manufacturer
comes along with a pill for each nutrient and offers to sell them to me.
How can I use my solution values to determine whether it is cost-effective
to buy his pills?
(Answers to these questions are postponed until lesson 4.)
Exercise: Describe the model in MODLER.
Solution.
Last updated: November 21, 1997