Mathematical Programming
Problem Solving
with Mathematical Models
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Operations Research
Operations Research deals with
decision problems by formulating and
analyzing mathematical models –
mathematical representations of
pertinent problem features.
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OR Process
Assessment
Real world problem Real world solution
Abstraction Interpretation
Analysis
Model Model solution
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Math Modeling is Only One Part of
Problem Solving
• Define an Opportunity or Problem
• Formulate a Mathematical Model
• Acquire Input Information and Data
• Validate (Calibrate) Model and Data
• Solve and Analyze Solution’s Sensitivity
• Implement Solution
• Monitor and Follow-Up
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OR models
The three fundamental concerns of forming
operations research models are
• decisions open to decision makers,
• the constraints limiting decision choices, and
• the objectives making some decisions
preferred to others.
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Mathematical Programs
Optimzation models (also called
mathematical programs) represent
choices as decision variables and seek
values that maximize or minimize
objective functions of the decisions
variables subject to constraints on
variable values expressing the limits on
possible decision choices.
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The model consists of:
• Decision variables
• Constraints
• Objective function
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Example
Leather Limited manufactures two types of
leather belts: the deluxe model and the regular
model. Each type requires 1 square meter of
leather. A regular belt requires 1 hour of skilled
labor and a deluxe belt requires 2 hours of
skilled labor. Each week, 40 square meters of
leather and 60 hours of skilled labor are
available. Each regular belt contributes $3
profit and each deluxe belt $4. Write an LP to
maximize profit.
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The decision variables are:
x1 = number of deluxe belts produced weekly
x2 = number of regular belts produced weekly
the appropriate LP is:
maximize z = 4x1 + 3x2 (objective function)
subject to x1 + x2 ≤ 40 (leather constraint)
2x1 +x2 ≤ 60 (labor constraint)
x 1, x 2 ≥ 0
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Example 2
• XYZ Beverages produce two ready-mixed cocktail
drinks; the Zombie and the Skyjack. Each is a mixture
of vodka, vermouth and ginger. It takes 3 liters of
vodka, 6 liters of vermouth and 1 liters of ginger to
make 10 liters of Zombie, and 5 liters of vodka, 3 liters
of vermouth and 2 liters of ginger to make 10 liters of
Skyjack. The company makes $15 profit per 10 liters of
Zombie and $20 profit per 10 liters of Skyjack. The
maximum available supplies per day are: 1500 liters of
vodka, 1500 liters of vermouth and 400 liters of ginger.
How much of each cocktail should be made to
maximize profit per day, and what is the maximum profit
per day it can make? 10
Let x1 = 10-liter lots of Zombie produced
Let x2 = 10-liter lots of Skyjack produced
Maximize :Z=15x1 + 20x2
Subject to:
3x1 + 5x2 ≤1500 (vodka)
6x1 + 3x2 ≤1500 (vermouth)
x1 + 2x2 ≤400 (ginger)
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Example 3
• A company specializing in lubrication products for
vintage motors produce two blended oils, 3A and 3B.
They make a profit of $5 per liter of 3A and $4 per
liter of 3B. A liter of 3A requires 0.4 liters of heavy oil
and 0.6 liters of light oil. A liter of 3B requires 0.8
liters of heavy oil and 0.2 liters of light oil. The
company has 100 liters of heavy oil and 80 liters of
light oil. How many liters of each product should they
make to maximize profits and what level of profit will
they obtain?
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Example 4
The Chic Sheet Company have to plan production for the next week.
The firm produces two types of sheet, standard and luxury, in packs
that are sold to retailers for $80 and $145 respectively. The costs of
materials are $25 per pack of standard sheets and $45 per pack of
luxury sheets. These materials are available in unlimited amounts.
There are three production departments, cutting, machining and
packing. The workforce includes 10 cutters, 150 machinists and 40
packers. The labor required per pack for each product and the labor
charges for each department are: The factory works a 37.5-hour week .
Standard Luxury Charge per hour ($)
Cutting 0.25 0.375 40
Machining 2.50 6.250 8
Packing 1.25 1.250 12
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Standard Luxury
Selling price 80 145
Less:
Direct materials 25 45
Cutting 10 15
Machining 20 50
Packing 15 15
Total deduction 70 125
Profit 10 20
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Let x = packs of Standard produced
and y = packs of Luxury produced
Maximize: Z= 10x + 20y
Subject to:
0.25x + 0.375y ≤ 375 (cutting)
2.5x + 6.25y ≤ 5625 (machining)
1.25x + 1.25y ≤1500 (packing)
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Feasible - Optimal
• A feasible solution is a choice of
values for the decision variables that
satisfies all constraints.
• Optimal solutions are feasible
solutions that achieve objective
functions value(s).
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Parameters – Output Variables
• Parameters – quantities taken as given
– Weekly demand, fixed cost of
replenishment, cost for holding inventory,
lead time, minimum order size.
• Parameters and decision variables
determine results measured as output
variables
– c(r,q ; d,f,h,s,l,m)
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