
Optimization and Decision Making 221
Excel comes with a built-in optimization procedure called “Solver.” It
is found under the Data ribbon of the Excel toolbar.
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The basic Solver that
comes standard with Excel is limited in the type of problems that it can
solve; in particular, it is not reliable when there are conditional statements
(such as IF statements) in the model. Solver also frequently can get stuck in
a local optimum. For example, Solver cannot handle the IF statements that
are contained in our airfare pricing model and cannot accommodate Monte
Carlo simulation.
Fortunately, better optimization tools are available. W