The main objective behind using linear programming is to help identify best allocation of various company resources. When it is referred as the allocation process, then it is certain to include resources like money, material, manpower, and machines etc. that can finally specify activities and also optimize the objectives.
Through linear programming it is also possible to attain the maximum use of any productive factors which can finally help in enhancing decision making quality. With the help of linear programming you can easily highlight bottlenecks in regard to production processes.
While analyzing the primal or dual pair you will get to know about different properties related to problem formulation:
- The number found in dual variables appear to be same as that of primal constraints
- The primal as well as dual variables can easily satisfy the non-negativity condition
- The inequalities appear to be reversed in direction
- The number related to dual constraints turns out to be same as that of primal variables
- The maximization problem referred in primal can become maximization problem in dual problem
The standard form of LPP
Suppose, x1, x2, ……xn turns out to be decision variables in case of general LPP. So, it is important to determine values of different variables such as:
Maximize z = c1 x1 + c2 x2 + …..+ cn xn
Subject to the constraints:
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + …….. + a1n xn = b1
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + …….. + a2n xn = b2
…………………………………………………….
am1 x1 + am2 x2 + …….. + amn xn = bm
x1, x2, …, xn ≥ 0.
When a linear programming problem is written in such a form then it is said to have standard form. This can further be solved through simplex method.
While discussing about primal or dual problem, it is identified that both shares relationship in regard to solution:
- The primal as well as dual problem comes up with same value when it is referred for optimal objective function. This turns out to be the fact only in case problems come with optimal solutions.
- If x becomes feasible solution to primal problem and then Y is also a feasible solution to dual problem, then it states as w(y) >= z(x). It is a feature that offers estimate of bounds in regard to dual optimal value and the feasible primal solution is available.
While discussing about simplex method in LPP, it is important to identify that each and every linear program can easily be converted into standard form
In standard form the objective is maximized and constraints become equals as well as variable turn out to be non-negative.
This can be performed in the following manner:
- When the problem is minimized as z and then converted to maximum –z
- When constraint is and this can be converted into equality constraint just by adding up non-negative slack variable. This can finally result in constraint , where
In case the constraint is , then certainly convert into equality constraint just by subtracting any non-negative surplus variable .
Links of Previous Main Topic:-
- Concept of capital expenditure
- Learning objectives and chapter outline
- Limitations of operations research
- Linear programming learning objectives and outline of chapter
- Introduction learning objectives
Links of Next Finance Topics:-
- Dual problems when primal in standard form
- Interpreting primal dual optimal solutions
- Dual simplex method
- Revised simplex method
- Learning objectives
- Learning objectives and chapter outline in assignment model
- Minimization problems
- Learning objectives the transportation problems
- Special case of traveling sales man problem
