OR 541
Deterministic Models in Operations Research
Spring 1998,
Wednesday 4:30-7:10, Krug HAll 207
Professor
Ariela Sofer
Science and Technology II, Room 123
phone: (703) 993-1692 or 993-1670 (secretary)
office hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:00, Thursday 2:30-4:00, or by appointment
electronic mail: asofer@gmu.edu
fax: (703) 993-1521 (on cover sheet put: A. Sofer, ORE Dept.)
Text
Wayne L. Winston, Operations Research, Applications and Algorithms
, Third Edition Duxberry Press, 1994. (Software versions for PC or Mac
available)
Course description
This course will introduce basic models
and techniques for deterministic operations research problems.
Students will learn to model problems arising from a wide variety of
applications as mathematical optimization problems,
study methods to solve these problems, and analyze the solutions
obtained. Students will have an opportunity to take
on real-world applications through homework assignments and a
project. A working knowledge of matrix algebra course and basic multivariable
calculus is needed for this course.
Topics covered will include linear programming, integer
programming and nonlinear programming. Topics will be taken from
Chapters 1,3,4, 6,7,9, and 12 of the book.
The class will use the software package LINDO which comes with
the text for some homework and for the project.
An introduction to LINDO is given on pages 192--195 of the text.
The class will also require the the use of the modeling language
MPL. A student version of MPL can be downloaded from
Maximal Software.
There are two versions: one for Windows 95
and Windows NT (Windows 4.0), the other for Windows 3.1.
Be sure to download the version that matches your computer system.
The software is also available from the CAD Lab in Science and
Technology II Room 017; you will need to bring two high-density 3.5"
flopy disks to copy the software. The student version of MPL comes with
a student version of the linear programming problem solver CPLEX.
Grading
There will two in-class exams: a midterm and a cumulative final
exam. The midterm will make up 25% of the grade, and the final
exam will make up 35% of the grade. Homeworks will make up 20%
of the grade. and an applied project will make up the remaining 20%.
In computing the final grade, the lowest homework grade will
be dropped.
Homework to date
Exam Dates
Midterm: Wednesday, March 18
Final: Wednesday, May 6, 4:30--7:15 p.m.
All exams will be open book, open notes.
Fundamental rules
- Make-up exams will only be given for extreme
situations, and only if I am contacted before the exam is
given and full arrangements are established. Full adherence to
this policy is the responsibility of the student.
- The exam dates above are tentative, and it is the students responsibility
to keep abreast of changes.
- Homework will be assigned each class, and usually
collected. All work must be clearly written. Illegible work will
not be accepted.
- There will be a penalty of 10% of the total grade for
every day homework is late.
Other Information
Getting a computer account
SITE Computer Labs
(schedules, software, etc.)