Operations Research, 2nd Edition

15

Non-Linear Programming

15.1 INTRODUCTION

One of the important assumptions of linear programming problem is the linear relationship among the decision variables. This means that each decision variable will have an independent effect on the objective and will contribute a constant and proportional amount to it and that each constraint will involve a linear relationship. In many real-world cases, decision variables do not always utilise a constant and independent amount. For instance, expansion programmes of a company forces work groups to specialise in particular tasks. This specialisation, in turn, creates productive efficiencies that can reduce rates of utilisation of resources, as the level of activity increases. For example, tripling production ...