The document discusses linear programming, focusing on mathematical programming problems that contain an objective function and constraints. It covers topics such as the feasibility of solutions, the distinction between maximization and minimization, and introduces multi-objective linear programming. Additionally, it illustrates linear programming problems through consumer choices and production scenarios, emphasizing the use of matrix notation and Excel for solving these problems.

1. Linear Programming
Part 1
J. M. Pogodzinski
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Agenda
• Mathematical Programming Problems
• Economic Theory and Mathematical Programming Problems
• Linear Programming Problems
• The Objective Function
• The Inequality Constraints
• The Non-Negativity Constraints (which are inequality
constraints)
• Equality Constraints?
• The Feasible Set
• Does a

2. Solution
Exist to a Linear Programming Problem? (the existence
question)
• Applications (Uses) of Linear Programming
• Solving Linear Programming Problems
• Theorems About Linear Programming
Mathematical Programming Problems
• A Mathematical Programming Problem consists of:
• An objective function
• Constraints defined somehow – equations, inequalities,…
• Little can be said about such a general problem – we need to
make
assumptions about the objective function and/or about the
constraints before we can say anything about the existence of
solutions, algorithms for finding solutions (if they exist),
properties of
solutions

3. About Objective Functions
• Very common to assume there is only one objective function
• Objective functions are either maximized or minimized – the
generic term is
optimized. The specific problem determines whether
maximization or
minimization is appropriate. There are deeper connections
between
maximization and minimization. Maximization problems can be
restated as
minimization problems. More importantly, specific
maximization problems are
associated with specific minimization problems through duality.
• It is possible to consider multi-objective mathematical
programming problems
(there is a legitimate topic called multi-objective linear
programming)
• What do you get out of multi-objective linear programming (if

4. there is a
solution)?
• The Pareto Frontier
• We will not consider multi-objective linear programming
because it is
computationally difficult
About Objective Functions
• Example (from microeconomics): Consumers maximize utility
subject
to a budget constraint
• ����,� � �,� ������� �� ��� + ��� = � (and �
≥ 0 and y ≥ 0)
• We assume that � �,� is a quasi-concave continuous function
(Note: famous paper “Quasi-Concave Programming” by Kenneth
J.
Arrow and Alain C. Enthoven, Econometrica, Vol. 29, No. 4
(Oct.,

5. 1961), pp. 779-800)
• A function � �,� is quasi-concave if its upper level sets are
convex
sets
Constraints
• Most common to define constraints by one or more equations
or
inequalities
• Note on finite constraint sets – existence of optimum
• For example, in the consumer choice problem mentioned in the
previous slide, an equation called the budget equation defined
the
constraint set - ��� + ��� = � (and � ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0)
• We might also have defined the constraint set with several
inequalities: ��� + ��� ≤ � and � ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0
• We can write the equation ��� + ��� = � as two

6. inequalities:
��� + ��� ≤ � and ��� + ��� ≥ �
The Consumer Choice Problem
����,� � �,� ������� �� ��� + ��� = �
(and � ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0)
Draw the constraint set (the feasible set)
Draw some upper level sets of the objective function
Are these sets convex sets?
Convex Sets – Yes or No?
• Examples
Linear Programming Problems

7. • An LP Problem has:
• A linear objective function
• Linear inequality constraints
• Non-negativity constraints
LP Problem – General Form
• Decision variables: �� (� = 1,…,�)
• (Linear) Objective function: Π = �1�1 + �2�2 + ⋯+ ����
• (Linear) Inequality constraints:
�11�1 + ⋯+ �1��� ≤ �1
�21�1 + ⋯+ �2��� ≤ �2
��1�1 + ⋯+ ����� ≤ ��
• Non-negativity constraints: �1 ≥ 0, �2 ≥ 0,…, �� ≥ 0
Write this in
matrix
notation
Write this in
matrix

8. notation
x – variables
a, b, c – parameters (constants)
Write this
in matrix
notation
LP Problem – An Example
• A Production Problem
• �� amount of good j to be produced (j=1,…,n)
• ��� amount of resource i required to produce one unit of
good j*
• �� amount of resource i available
• �� profit per unit of good j
*CONVENTION: (i,j) = (row, column)
Graph it!

9. Solve it!
Write in matrix
notation!
Products Variables
socks x1
shirts x2
Resources Parameters
Looms b1 10
Sewing Machines b2 15
Labor b3 12
Coefficient Matrix
1 1
3 1
2 1
Product net revenue Pi-1 Pi-2 Pi-3
socks c1 1 2 1
shirts c2 1 1 2

10. Linear Programming
Part 2
J. M. Pogodzinski
Agenda
• Some LP Theorems
• Excel skills: sumproduct, matrix multiplication, matrix
inversion
• Using Excel to Solve LP Problems (demo)
• Binding and non-binding constraints
• The Dual LP Problem
• The Dual