Learn Operations Research with Solutions Manual for Hillier and Lieberman 9th Edition
Solution Manual Introduction To Operations Research 9th Ed Hillier And Lieberman 19
Operations research (OR) is a discipline that applies mathematical models and methods to solve complex problems in business, engineering, management, and other fields. OR can help decision makers optimize their objectives, such as maximizing profits, minimizing costs, improving quality, or increasing efficiency. OR can also help analyze trade-offs, risks, uncertainties, and multiple criteria involved in decision making.
Solution Manual Introduction To Operations Research 9th Ed Hillier And Lieberman 19
However, OR is not a magic bullet that can solve any problem without effort. OR requires a clear understanding of the problem, a careful formulation of the model, a reliable solution method, and a valid interpretation of the results. OR also faces challenges such as data availability and quality, computational complexity, ethical issues, and human factors.
Fortunately, there are many resources that can help students and practitioners learn and apply OR effectively. One of them is the book Introduction to Operations Research by Frederick S. Hillier and Gerald J. Lieberman, which is now in its 9th edition. This book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the theory and practice of OR, covering a wide range of topics and techniques.
Another resource is the Solution Manual for this book, which contains detailed solutions and answers to all the exercises and problems in the book. The Solution Manual can help students check their understanding, practice their skills, and prepare for exams. The Solution Manual can also help instructors design assignments, quizzes, and tests.
In this article, we will review what is OR, what is the Solution Manual, and what are the main topics covered in the book. We will also provide some tips on how to use the Solution Manual effectively and where to find it online.
What is Operations Research?
Definition and scope of OR
According to Hillier and Lieberman (2010), OR is "the application of scientific methods to improve decision making". OR uses mathematical models to represent real-world problems and then applies various methods to find optimal or near-optimal solutions. OR also evaluates the performance and sensitivity of the solutions under different scenarios and assumptions.
OR can be applied to almost any domain that involves decision making under uncertainty or complexity. Some examples are:
Production planning and scheduling
Supply chain management and logistics
Project management and resource allocation
Transportation and routing
Inventory and warehousing
Facility location and layout
Marketing and pricing
Finance and investment
Healthcare and epidemiology
Energy and environment
Military and defense
Sports and games
Applications and benefits of OR
OR has been successfully applied to many real-world problems and has delivered significant benefits to various organizations and industries. Some examples are:
The simplex method, developed by George Dantzig in 1947, is one of the most widely used algorithms for solving linear programming problems. It has been used to optimize the allocation of resources, such as labor, materials, machines, or time, in various settings, such as manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, or military.
The traveling salesman problem (TSP), which asks for the shortest route that visits a given set of cities exactly once, is one of the most famous and challenging problems in OR. It has been used to model and solve problems such as vehicle routing, circuit design, DNA sequencing, or tour planning.
The critical path method (CPM) and the program evaluation and review technique (PERT), developed in the 1950s, are two popular techniques for planning and managing complex projects. They have been used to schedule and coordinate activities, such as construction, research, development, or maintenance, in various domains, such as engineering, aerospace, or software.
The branch-and-bound method, developed by Ailsa Land and Alison Doig in 1960, is a general algorithm for solving integer programming problems. It has been used to solve problems such as facility location, bin packing, knapsack, or set covering.
The genetic algorithm (GA), inspired by the natural process of evolution, is a metaheuristic that can find good solutions to complex optimization problems. It has been used to solve problems such as machine learning, image processing, scheduling, or design.
The benefits of OR can be measured in terms of improved efficiency, reduced costs, increased profits, enhanced quality, or better customer satisfaction. Some examples are:
In 1952, the US Air Force used linear programming to optimize the allocation of jet fuel among its air bases. This resulted in an annual saving of $30 million.
In 1975, British Airways used network optimization to redesign its flight network. This resulted in an annual saving of 40 million.
In 1982, IBM used dynamic programming to optimize the production of its mainframe computers. This resulted in an annual saving of $250 million.
In 1992, American Airlines used integer programming to optimize the assignment of crews to flights. This resulted in an annual saving of $20 million.
In 2004, UPS used genetic algorithms to optimize the routing of its delivery trucks. This resulted in an annual saving of $600 million.
Challenges and limitations of OR
Despite its success and popularity, OR also faces some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. Some examples are:
Data availability and quality: OR models require accurate and reliable data to produce valid and useful results. However, data may be incomplete, outdated, inconsistent, or erroneous due to various reasons, such as human errors, measurement errors, or system failures. Therefore, data collection and validation are essential steps in OR practice.
Computational complexity: OR models may involve a large number of variables, constraints, or objectives that make them difficult or impossible to solve exactly by existing methods. Therefore, approximation methods or heuristics may be needed to find feasible or good solutions within reasonable time. However, these methods may not guarantee optimality or quality of the solutions.
Ethical issues: OR models may have ethical implications or consequences that need to be considered carefully. For example, OR models may affect the welfare or rights of individuals or groups involved in the problem or solution. Therefore, ethical principles and values should guide the formulation and evaluation of OR models.
Human factors: OR models may depend on the assumptions or preferences of the decision makers or stakeholders involved in the problem or solution. However, these assumptions or preferences may be subjective, uncertain, or conflicting due to various reasons, such as cognitive biases, emotions, or interests. Therefore, communication and collaboration are important skills in OR practice.
What is the Solution Manual?
Purpose and features of the Solution Manual
How to use the Solution Manual effectively
The Solution Manual is a valuable resource for learning and applying OR, but it should be used wisely and responsibly. Here are some tips on how to use the Solution Manual effectively:
Do not rely on the Solution Manual as a substitute for reading the book or doing the exercises. The Solution Manual is meant to complement and reinforce your learning, not to replace it.
Do not copy or plagiarize the solutions from the Solution Manual. This is unethical and may violate academic integrity policies. You should use your own words and understanding to explain the solutions, and cite the source properly if you quote or paraphrase any part of the Solution Manual.
Do not look at the solutions before attempting the exercises or problems by yourself. This may hinder your learning process and reduce your motivation and confidence. You should try to solve the exercises or problems on your own first, and then check the solutions to verify or improve your answers.
Do not memorize the solutions without understanding them. This may limit your ability to apply OR to new or different problems. You should try to understand the logic and reasoning behind the solutions, and learn how to apply the concepts and methods to various situations.
Do not ignore the solutions that differ from yours. This may prevent you from learning from your mistakes or discovering alternative approaches. You should compare and contrast your solutions with the ones in the Solution Manual, and analyze why they are different or similar.
Where to find the Solution Manual online
The Solution Manual for Introduction to Operations Research by Hillier and Lieberman is available online in various formats and platforms. Some examples are:
The official website of the book: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/introduction-operations-research-hillier-lieberman/M9780073523453.html. Here you can find information about the book, such as its features, contents, authors, and reviews. You can also access some online resources, such as PowerPoint slides, Excel files, and software tutorials. However, you need to register as an instructor to access the Solution Manual.
The Chegg website: https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/introduction-to-operations-research-9th-edition-solutions-9780073376295. Here you can find textbook solutions for various subjects and editions, including Introduction to Operations Research by Hillier and Lieberman. You can view the solutions online or download them as PDF files. However, you need to pay a subscription fee to access the solutions.
The Quizlet website: https://quizlet.com/explanations/textbook-solutions/introduction-to-operations-research-9th-edition-9780077417116. Here you can find expert-verified solutions and answers for Introduction to Operations Research by Hillier and Lieberman. You can view the solutions online or print them as flashcards. However, you need to sign up as a user to access the solutions.
The Internet Archive website: https://archive.org/details/solutions-manual-for-introduction-to-operations-research-10th-edition-by-frederick-hillier. Here you can find a free download of the Solution Manual for Introduction to Operations Research by Hillier and Lieberman 10th edition. You can view or download the Solution Manual as a PDF file. However, you need to be aware of the potential legal issues of using this source.
What are the main topics covered in the book?
Introduction to Linear Programming
Linear programming (LP) is one of the most fundamental and widely used techniques in OR. LP deals with the problem of optimizing a linear objective function subject to a set of linear constraints. LP can model and solve many problems in various domains, such as production, transportation, or finance.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is a linear programming model and what are its assumptions.
How to formulate a linear programming model for a given problem.
How to solve a linear programming model on a spreadsheet using the Solver tool.
How to formulate and solve very large linear programming models using special software.
The Theory of the Simplex Method
The simplex method is one of the most important and efficient algorithms for solving LP problems. The simplex method exploits the special structure of LP problems and iteratively moves from one feasible solution to another until reaching the optimal solution. The simplex method can handle problems with thousands of variables and constraints in reasonable time.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is the essence of the simplex method and how it works.
How to set up the simplex method for a given LP problem.
How to perform the algebra and arithmetic of the simplex method.
How to implement the simplex method in tabular form.
How to deal with tie breaking, degeneracy, and unboundedness in the simplex method.
How to adapt the simplex method to other forms of LP problems, such as minimization, equality constraints, or mixed constraints.
How to perform postoptimality analysis using the simplex method, such as finding alternative optimal solutions, finding the range of optimality, or finding the shadow prices.
What is the interior-point approach to solving LP problems and how it differs from the simplex method.
Duality Theory and Sensitivity Analysis
Duality theory is one of the most powerful and elegant concepts in OR. Duality theory establishes a relationship between a given LP problem (called the primal) and another LP problem (called the dual) that has the same optimal value but reversed roles of variables and constraints. Duality theory provides insights into the economic interpretation and sensitivity analysis of LP problems.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is the essence of duality theory and how it works.
How to derive the dual of a given primal LP problem and vice versa.
What are the primal-dual relationships and how they can be used to prove optimality or infeasibility.
How to adapt duality theory to other forms of primal LP problems, such as minimization, equality constraints, or mixed constraints.
What is the role of duality theory in sensitivity analysis and how it can be used to find the dual prices or reduced costs.
What is the essence of sensitivity analysis and how it works.
Duality Theory and Sensitivity Analysis
Duality theory is one of the most powerful and elegant concepts in OR. Duality theory establishes a relationship between a given LP problem (called the primal) and another LP problem (called the dual) that has the same optimal value but reversed roles of variables and constraints. Duality theory provides insights into the economic interpretation and sensitivity analysis of LP problems.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is the essence of duality theory and how it works.
How to derive the dual of a given primal LP problem and vice versa.
What are the primal-dual relationships and how they can be used to prove optimality or infeasibility.
How to adapt duality theory to other forms of primal LP problems, such as minimization, equality constraints, or mixed constraints.
What is the role of duality theory in sensitivity analysis and how it can be used to find the dual prices or reduced costs.
What is the essence of sensitivity analysis and how it works.
How to apply sensitivity analysis to various changes in an LP problem, such as changes in the objective function coefficients, changes in the right-hand sides of the constraints, or changes in the coefficients of the constraints.
How to perform sensitivity analysis on a spreadsheet using the Solver tool.
Other Algorithms for Linear Programming
The simplex method and the interior-point method are not the only algorithms for solving LP problems. There are other algorithms that can handle special cases or exploit special structures of LP problems. Some of these algorithms are faster, simpler, or more robust than the general-purpose algorithms.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is the dual simplex method and how it can be used to solve LP problems that start with an optimal dual solution but an infeasible primal solution.
What is the parametric linear programming and how it can be used to solve LP problems that involve a parameter that varies within a given range.
What is the bounded variable linear programming and how it can be used to solve LP problems that have lower and upper bounds on some or all of the variables.
What is the decomposition principle and how it can be used to solve large-scale LP problems that have a block-angular structure.
What is the Karmarkar's algorithm and how it can be used to solve LP problems using a projective transformation technique.
The Transportation and Assignment Problems
The transportation problem and the assignment problem are two special types of LP problems that have a network structure. The transportation problem deals with the optimal allocation of a homogeneous commodity from a set of sources to a set of destinations. The assignment problem deals with the optimal assignment of a set of agents to a set of tasks.
In this chapter, you will learn:
How to formulate a transportation problem or an assignment problem as an LP problem.
How to solve a transportation problem or an assignment problem using special algorithms that exploit their network structure, such as the transportation simplex method, the northwest corner rule, the stepping-stone method, or the Hungarian method.
How to handle special cases or variations of the transportation problem or the assignment problem, such as unbalanced problems, degenerate problems, transshipment problems, maximal assignment problems, or multiple assignment problems.
How to apply the transportation problem or the assignment problem to model and solve various real-world problems, such as production planning, distribution planning, personnel scheduling, or machine scheduling.
Network Optimization Models
A network is a set of nodes connected by a set of arcs. A network can represent many physical or abstract systems, such as roads, pipelines, circuits, flows, or relationships. Network optimization models are models that involve finding optimal solutions for problems that have a network structure. Network optimization models can be classified into two types: shortest path models and minimum spanning tree models.
In this chapter, you will learn:
What is a shortest path model and what are its applications.
How to formulate a shortest path model as an LP problem.
How to solve a shortest path model using special algorithms that exploit its network structure, such as Dijkstra's algorithm, Bellman-Ford algorithm, or Floyd-Warshall algorithm.
What is a minimum spanning tree model and what are its applications.
How to formulate a minimum spanning tree model as an LP problem.
How to solve a minimum spanning tree model using special algorithms that exploit its network structure, such as Prim's algorithm, Kruskal's algorithm, or Boruvka's algorithm.
Dynamic Programming
Dynamic programming (DP) is a general technique for solving complex optimization problems that have a recursive or sequential structure. DP breaks down a problem into smaller and simpler subproblems, and then combines the optim