Introduction To Operations Research

A computer-oriented approach is used throughout this book, Introduction To Operations Research to acquaint those interested in problem solving with the important methods of operations research in a way that they can start solving realistic problems immediately. This approach is especially appealing because of the role the computer plays in the problem-solving process. The general approach throughout is: Formulation of the problem to be solved, Construction of a model of the problem, Development of a method to solve the model, Presentation of a concise computer-oriented algorithm to solve the model, presentation of a FORTRAN computer program for the algorithm. This book is designed to serve as an introductory OR textbook for undergraduates interested in problem solving, as a textbook for a short course in computer-oriented methods, and as a handbook of optimization methods and computer programs for the practitioner. It is meant as a survey of the important methods of operations research integrating the computer and the methods. It can equally serve the practitioner, the student who plans to study operations research in depth, or the student who only desires an appreciation of the general area of operations research. This book differs from other texts in the area in its overall computer-oriented approach. In addition, many of the latest OR methods from the literature are presented in easy to understand algorithmic form suitable for programming.