15.053 | Spring 2013 | Undergraduate

Optimization Methods in Management Science

Course Description

This course introduces students to the theory, algorithms, and applications of optimization. The optimization methodologies include linear programming, network optimization, integer programming, and decision trees. Applications to logistics, manufacturing, transportation, marketing, project management, and finance. …
This course introduces students to the theory, algorithms, and applications of optimization. The optimization methodologies include linear programming, network optimization, integer programming, and decision trees. Applications to logistics, manufacturing, transportation, marketing, project management, and finance. Includes a team project in which students select and solve a problem in practice.
Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets with Solutions
Lecture Notes
Projects
A diagram of a 5x5 grid of circles, with one red circle and its adjacent circles highlighted.
The game of Fiver begins with a grid of circles, green on one side and red on the other. Starting with all green, each move flips a circle and its four adjacent circles, until all of the circles are red. Optimizing the Fiver solution (solving in the fewest number of moves) is used in Lecture 10 (PDF) to illustrate Integer Programming techniques. (Image by Prof. James Orlin.)