620-261 Introduction to Operations Research

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Both 620-111 and 620-112, or both 620-121 and 620-122; or both 620-141 and 620-142; or 620-200; or 620-211 (1997 Handbook: both 618-111 and 618-112, or both 618-121 and 618-122; or both 618-141 and 618-142; or 618-200; or 618-211).

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Students completing this subject should comprehend

• the essential features of operations research methods and the type of problems they can solve;
• a number of basic mathematical techniques used to solve typical generic problems;
• the theoretical foundations of these techniques;
• the essential role that computers play in the analysis and solutions of operations research problems;

have developed the ability to

• construct formal mathematical models for practical optimisation problems;
• solve linear programming problems and to assess the results;
• use dynamic programming techniques in the modelling analysis and solution of operations research problems;
• conduct sensitivity analysis in the context of a number of operations research problems;

and appreciate

• the extent and limitations of operations research techniques such as linear programming, dynamic programming and sensitivity analysis in the context of real-world problems;
• the important role that standard mathematical tools play in the development of these techniques.

Selected topics from: mathematical modelling, linear programming, simplex and revised simplex methods, duality theory, sensitivity analysis, dynamic programming, shortest path and critical path problems, knapsack problem, applications of operations research techniques to real-world problems; use of computer packages and Internet resources.

Assessment

Up to 24 pages of written assignments and a three-hour end-of-semester written examination.