ABSTRACT
This chapter considers nonlinear programming models i.e. models in which the objective and/or constraints are nonlinear. One of the reasons as to why nonlinear programming is of interest to geographers and planners is that many real-world problems, when expressed mathematically turn out to possess nonlinearities. A nonlinear objective which has formed the basis for a number of recent mathematical programming studies concerns the maximisation of what is known as entropy. A key factor controlling the location of the optimal solution to a particular nonlinear programming problem is, quite obviously, the mathematical nature of the nonlinearities involved. The former deals with the optimal use of surplus milk production in the Netherlands while the latter considers the optimal production pattern for horticultural products. Mathematically, the transforms a nonlinear programming problem into a linear programming problem which yields approximately the same optimal solution.
