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Simplex Maximization Method: Step 1: Standard Form

The document outlines the 11 steps for solving a linear programming problem using the Simplex method. It begins by explaining how to put the problem into standard form and introduce slack variables to transform inequalities into equalities. It then discusses setting up a Simplex tableau to perform row operations and check for optimality. The key steps involve identifying a pivot variable when the current solution is not optimal, creating a new tableau using row operations centered around the pivot variable, and repeating this process until an optimal solution is reached where all values in the final row of the tableau are greater than or equal to zero.

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45 views2 pages

Simplex Maximization Method: Step 1: Standard Form

The document outlines the 11 steps for solving a linear programming problem using the Simplex method. It begins by explaining how to put the problem into standard form and introduce slack variables to transform inequalities into equalities. It then discusses setting up a Simplex tableau to perform row operations and check for optimality. The key steps involve identifying a pivot variable when the current solution is not optimal, creating a new tableau using row operations centered around the pivot variable, and repeating this process until an optimal solution is reached where all values in the final row of the tableau are greater than or equal to zero.

Uploaded by

Reezie Gray
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Republic of the Philippines

Carlos Hilado Memorial State College Fortune Towne Campus


Fortune Towne, Bacolod City

Simplex Maximization Method

The Simplex method is an approach to solving linear programming models by hand using slack variables,
tableaus, and pivot variables as a means to finding the optimal solution of an optimization problem. A linear
program is a method of achieving the best outcome given a maximum or minimum equation with linear
constraints. To solve a linear programming model using the Simplex method the following steps are necessary:

Step 1: Standard Form


Standard form is the baseline format for all linear programs before solving for the optimal solution and has
three requirements: (1) must be a maximization problem, (2) all linear constraints must be in a
less-than-or-equal-to inequality, (3) all variables are non-negative. Standard form is necessary because it
creates an ideal starting point for solving the Simplex method as efficiently as possible as well as other methods of
solving optimization problems.

Step 2: Determine Slack Variables

Slack variables are additional variables that are introduced into the linear constraints of a linear program to
transform them from inequality constraints to equality constraints. If the model is in standard form, the slack
variables will always have a +1 coefficient. Slack variables are needed in the constraints to transform them into
solvable equalities with one definite answer.

Step 3: Setting up the Tableau

A Simplex tableau is used to perform row operations on the linear programming model as well as to check a
solution for optimality. The tableau consists of the coefficient corresponding to the linear constraint variables and
the coefficients of the objective function.

Step 4: Check Optimality


The optimal solution of a maximization linear programming model are the values assigned to the variables in
the objective function to give the largest zeta value. The optimal solution would exist on the corner points of the
graph of the entire model. To check optimality using the tableau, all values in the last row must contain values
greater than or equal to zero. If a value is less than zero, it means that variable has not reached its optimal value.

Step 5: Identify Pivot Variable


The pivot variable is used in row operations to identify which variable will become the unit value and is a key
factor in the conversion of the unit value. The pivot variable can be identified by looking at the bottom row of the
tableau and the indicator. Assuming that the solution is not optimal, pick the smallest negative value in the
bottom row. One of the values lying in the column of this value will be the pivot variable. To find the indicator,
divide the beta values of the linear constraints by their corresponding values from the column containing the
possible pivot variable. The intersection of the row with the smallest non-negative indicator and the smallest
negative value in the bottom row will become the pivot variable.

Step 6: Create the New Tableau


The new tableau will be used to identify a new possible optimal solution. Now that the pivot variable has
been identified in Step 5, row operations can be performed to optimize the pivot variable while keeping the rest of
the tableau equivalent.
Step 7: Check Optimality
As explained in Step 4, the optimal solution of a maximization linear programming model are the values
assigned to the variables in the objective function to give the largest zeta value. Optimality will need to be
checked after each new tableau to see if a new pivot variable needs to be identified. A solution is considered
optimal if all values in the bottom row are greater than or equal to zero. If all values are greater than or equal to
zero, the solution is considered optimal and Steps 8 through 11 can be ignored. If negative values exist, the
solution is still not optimal and a new pivot point will need to be determined which is demonstrated in Step 8.

Step 8: Identify New Pivot Variable


If the solution has been identified as not optimal, a new pivot variable will need to be determined. The pivot
variable was introduced in Step 5 and is used in row operations to identify which variable will become the unit
value and is a key factor in the conversion of the unit value. The pivot variable can be identified by the
intersection of the row with the smallest non-negative indicator and the smallest negative value in the bottom row.

Step 9: Create New Tableau


After the new pivot variable has been identified, a new tableau will need to be created. Introduced in Step 6,
the tableau is used to optimize the pivot variable while keeping the rest of the tableau equivalent.

Step 10: Check Optimality


Using the new tableau, check for optimality. Explained in Step 4, an optimal solution appears when all
values in the bottom row are greater than or equal to zero. If all values are greater than or equal to zero, skip to
Step 12 because optimality has been reached. If negative values still exist, repeat steps 8 and 9 until an optimal
solution is obtained.

Step 11: Identify Optimal Values


Once the tableau is proven optimal the optimal values can be identified. These can be found by distinguishing
the basic and non-basic variables. A basic variable can be classified to have a single 1 value in its column and the
rest be all zeros. If a variable does not meet this criteria, it is considered non-basic. If a variable is non-basic it
means the optimal solution of that variable is zero. If a variable is basic, the row that contains the 1 value will
correspond to the beta value. The beta value will represent the optimal solution for the given variable.

TESORO, EZZA C.
BSBA 3A

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