The Essential Features of Optimization Problems

Because the solution of optimization problems involves various features of mathematics, the formulation of an optimization problem must use mathematical expressions. Such expressions do not necessarily need to be very complex. Not all problems can be stated or analyzed quantitatively, but we will restrict our coverage to quantitative methods. From a practical viewpoint, it is important to mesh properly the problem statement with the anticipated solution technique. 

Every optimization problem contains three essential categories  

At least one objective function to be optimized (profit function, cost function, etc.). 

Categories 2 and 3 constitute the model of the process or equipment category 1 is sometimes called the economic model. 

Feasible region for an optimization problem involving two independent variables. The dashed lines represent the side of the inequality constraints in the plane that form part of the infeasible region. The heavy line shows the feasible region. 

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