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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Fundamentals of Operational Research (MATH10065)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course covers some core areas of Operational Research, namely Dynamic Optimisation, Integer Optimisation and Game Theory. Emphasis will be placed both on the mathematical techniques and on problem formulation through examples from applications.
Course description Dynamic Optimisation is a neat way of solving sequential decision problems based on recursion. Its power comes from the fact that some important classes of optimisation problems that "ought to be difficult" can be reformulated as a recursive optimisation problem and thus made tractable. Examples are network optimisation problems, allocation problems and inventory problems.

Integer Optimisation provides a general method of solving problems with logical or integrality constraints. Solution methods include Branch-and-Bound and Gomory Cuts. Much emphasis will be placed on how to express various types of restrictions that may appear in optimisation problems (like logical conditions) can be expressed using integer variables.

Game Theory is concerned with mathematical modelling of behaviour and optimal decision making in competitive strategic situations in which the success of strategic choices of one individual (person, company, server, ...) depends on the choices of other (intelligent) "players" that each have their own (possibly conflicting) agenda.

Note that Dynamic Optimisation and Integer Optimisation were historically called "Dynamic Programming" and "Integer Programming" respectively (the term "programming" in these words did not mean "computer programming" but rather decision making).

Dynamic Optimisation
Multistage decision processes; principle of optimality. Applications: network problems; inventory problem; resource allocation problem; knapsack problem; stochastic problems.

Integer Optimisation
Modelling: set-up costs, batch production, limited number of production methods. Logical constraints; set covering problems; systematic conversion of logical expression to IP constraints. Solution techniques: branch and bound; Gomory pure integer cuts.

Game Theory
Optimal strategies in face of uncertainty (minimax and maximin). Two-person zero sum games, dominated strategies, saddle points, non=zero sum games, reaction curves and Nash equilibria.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Student must not have taken :
MATH09002 Discrete Programming & Game Theory or MATH11089 Dynamic and Integer Programming.

There are no specific pre-requisites, but some previous exposure to optimisation (such as Linear Programming/Simplex algorithm) may be useful.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 69 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 20 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 20%, Examination 80%
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)MATH10065 Fundamentals of Operational Research2:00
Academic year 2018/19, Part-year visiting students only (VV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 69 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 20 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 20%, Examination 80%
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)MATH10065 Fundamentals of Operational Research2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Formulate and solve a sequential decision optimization problem.
  2. Formulate and solve optimization problems with logical constraints.
  3. Find optimal and equilibrium strategies for zero and nonzero-sum 2x2 matrix games.
  4. Master the theory underlying the solution methods.
Reading List
Introduction to Operations Research, F. S. Hillier and G. Lieberman, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 9th edition. ISBN-10: 0071267670
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsFuOR
Contacts
Course organiserDr Andreas Grothey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5747
Email: Andreas.Grothey@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Alison Fairgrieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5045
Email: Alison.Fairgrieve@ed.ac.uk
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