Comprehend: the essential features of optimization problems encountered in Operations Research investigations; what kind of practical problems have these features; a number of basic mathematical techniques used to solve linear and sequential decision problems; the theoretical foundations of these techniques; the essential role that computers play in the analysis and solutions of Operations Research problems.
Have developed: basic skills required to construct formal mathematical models for practical optimization problems; skills needed to solve linear programming problems with the aid of the simplex method and to assess the results; skills to make use of the relationship between primal and dual problems and their respective optimal solutions; skills to perform sensitivity analysis of linear programming problems; skills in using dynamic programming techniques in the solution of a number of problem-areas;
Appreciate: the extent and limitations of a number of Operations Research techniques such as linear programming, dynamic programming as far as solving practical real-world optimization problems is concerned; the important role that linear algebra and calculus play in the development of these techniques; why computers are so important in solving real-world optimization problems of the Operational Research type.