Applications

Abstract

This chapter will provide a number of classes of applications of linear programming problems. We should note that these are mere sample problems that are designed to give readers a flavor of the application, rather than a model that includes all of the bells and whistles usually found in real applications. We have already discussed an example of the first large class of applications in the Introduction, viz., production problems. Readers may recall that the simple model formulated in the introduction has its decision variables defined in terms of the number of quantity units of a product that are made and sold. Much more frequently, such variables will have to be decomposed into variables that measure the number of units that are made, while other variables express the number of units that are sold, with the unsold units being left in inventory. A sizeable production — inventory problem is presented as a mini case study in Section 10 of this Chapter.