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COMPUTER SOLUTION OF THE GULFGOLF PROBLEM 55

In January 1952 the first solved graphically but have to be solved through an appropriate computer package.
successful computer Computer programs designed to solve linear programming problems are now widely
solution of a linear
programming problem available. Most companies and universities have access to these. After a short period
was performed on the of familiarization with the specific features of the package, users are able to solve
SEAC (Standards Eastern linear programming problems with few difficulties. Most large linear programmes
Automatic Computer). can be solved with just a few minutes of computer time; small linear programmes
The SEAC, the first digital
computer built by the usually require only a few seconds.
National Bureau of More recently, with the virtual explosion of software for personal computers, a
Standards under US Air large number of user-friendly computer programs that can solve linear pro-
Force sponsorship, had a grammes became available. These programs, developed by academicians and small
512-word memory and
magnetic tape for software companies, are almost all easy to use. Most of these programs are
external storage. designed to solve smaller linear programmes (a few hundred variables). But, some
can be used to solve problems involving thousands of variables and constraints.
In 2005, a survey reviewed
around 50 different LP Linear programming solvers are now part of many spreadsheet packages. In
computer programs. OR/ Appendixes 2.1 and 2.2 we show how to solve LP problems with Microsoft Excel
MS Today, June 2013, and with the Management Scientist software package developed by the authors of
Linear Programming this text.
Software Survey.

Interpretation of Computer Output
Figure 2.14 shows the Excel Solver spreadsheet for the GulfGolf problem. The top
part of the spreadsheet (Rows 4 to 9) shows the problem information – the coefficients
and values for each constraint and the objective function. The bottom part of the
spreadsheet shows information about the optimal solution.

Figure 2.14 Excel Solution for the GulfGolf Problem

EXCEL file
GULFGOLF

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