Electronic Proceedings of the Seventh Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate MathematicsOrlando, Florida, November 17-20, 1994Paper C034Sensitivity Analysis in Linear Programming Using a Calculator |
Judith Aronow5590 Frost Beaumont, TX 77706 USA Phone: (409) 892-9141 Fax: (409) 835-5432 aronowju@lub001.lamar.edu list of all papers by this author | Richard D. JarvinenDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics Winona State University 308 Gildemeister Hall Winona, MN 55987 USA Phone: (507) 457-5590 Fax: (507) 457-5586 rdjarvinen@vax2.winona.msus.edu list of all papers by this author |
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ABSTRACT
Sensitivity Analysis is often either omitted from the teaching of linear programming or solely its purpose briefly described. Yet, by its very 'what if' nature, it encourages user experimentation, because it allows one to observe the effects of varying the 'givens', parameters such as costs, technological coefficients and resource availabilities. Affordable hand-held computational devices are the perfect tool for this numerical work. They are easily used and widely available for rapid 'number crunching'. The results allow the user the luxury of viewing numerical trends with hypothetical givens. We illustrate with easily implemented calculator programming and sample problems.Keyword(s): linear programming, graphing calculators, TI-85, HP48G