ABSTRACT
This chapter presents optimization techniques that may be exploited with Excel Solver. It examines how Solver can be used to maximize or minimize a function subject to a set of constraints that take the form of inequalities. The function that is set as the target is usually called the objective function. The optimization process is normally treated as a subject in operations research, and the mathematical techniques are part of the subject of mathematical programming. The chapter considers two optimization problems, each with two variables, one linear and one nonlinear. To obtain solutions to the example optimization problems, the Solver worksheet is organized in a fashion similar to that used for the solution of simultaneous equations. The chapter provides the Answer Reports for the linear optimization problem. This report shows an initial value of the g function as 24—the final result of the maximization problem.
