MATH 3401. Operations Research.
Spring Semester 2009

4 semester credit hours.

Course Instructor : Dr. Peh Ng --

Course Time : 10:30 till 11:35am on Mon and Fri; and 8:00am till 9:05am on Wed

Course Venue : SCI 3655 on Mon and Fri; and SCI 4655 on Wed

Instructor's OFFICE: Sci 2330

Instructor's OFFICE HOURS: 1:00pm till 2:30pm on Mon, Tue, Thu, & Fri; or anytime by appointment. (I am either in my office, in class or somewhere on campus from 7:30am till 7pm so if you need help, stop by my office or catch me anywhere on campus.)

Instructor's PHONE: 589-6318

Instructor's E-MAIL: pehng@morris.umn.edu

Course web page www.morris.umn.edu/~pehng/Ma3401


REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
Class notes & handouts by Peh Ng
Textbook (optional) & reference books:

To facilitate in-class discussions, it is recommended that you do some reading of the text.

PRE-REQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE : Willingness to work hard, to spend at least 8 hours weekly on this course OUTSIDE of class time, & to think analytically.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/PURPOSES : to help students to:

MATERIAL COVERED:

Part 1. Mathematical Modeling.
Formulations of real-world problems as Linear Programming or Integer Programming models; graphical solutions of some LP-models.

Part 2. Linear Programming : The Simplex Method .
Ideas behind the Simplex Method; the Simplex Algorithm for solving linear programming problems - Primal and Dual Simplex; interpreting optimal solutions : sensitivity analysis.

Part 3. Duality.
Corresponding dual problem to an LP; interpretation of the dual problem; relationship between the primal and dual problems; complementary slackness.

Part 4. Integer Linear Programming.
More applications; branch-and-bound algorithm; cutting plane algorithm.

Part 5. Transportation Model.
Applications and definition; techniques to solve the transportation model; minimum cost network flow and the network simplex method; (if time permits...) the assignment and the transshipment models.


GRADING:

EXAMINATIONS: Three midterm examinations and a final exam will be given. There will be NO make-up exams unless arrangement is made with the instructor PRIOR to the exam date. EACH EXAMINATION (INCLUDING THE FINAL) WILL BE CLOSED-BOOKS AND CLOSED-NOTES.

HOMEWORK: Multiple homework sets (written & computer) will be assigned. No late assignments will be accepted unless arrangements are made with the instructor PRIOR to the due date. If you do NOT attend class on the day that homework is due and you did not make any prior arrangements with the instructor, then it is YOUR responsibility to make sure assignments get turned in that day and to make sure that you catch up on the material missed, including new assignments.

COURSE PROJECT: Course Project will be assigned at the end of the third week of the semester. The handout given will contain all the details and mechanisms. All reports and presentations are due on certain dates given in the handout, no exceptions. And, there is no such thing as a make-up project.

HOMEWORK: 100pts
3 MIDTERM EXAMS: 300pts (100 each)
COURSE PROJECT: 100pts
FINAL EXAM: (Tue, May 12 at 8:30am till 10:30am or at 4pm till 6pm) 200pts

Course Grades

EARNED GRADE IF TOTAL PERCENTAGE EARNED x is
A 90 ≤ x ≤ 100
A- 88 ≤ x ≤ 89
B+ 86 ≤ x ≤ 87
B 80 ≤ x ≤ 85
B- 78 ≤ x ≤ 79
C+ 76 ≤ x ≤ 77
C 70 ≤ x ≤ 75
C- 68 ≤ x ≤ 69
D+ 66 ≤ x ≤ 67
D 60 ≤ x ≤ 65

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY and HONESTY:
Discussion of homework or assignments among students aids learning and is encouraged. However, each student is expected to submit or present his/her own work if requested. No two homeworks or presentations should ever be identical on any major part. No cooperation of any kind, or use of unauthorized notes, is allowed during examinations or assignments.
Cheating, particularly on examinations, hurts students who are honestly earning their grades by devaluing their achievements. It is every student's responsibility to help control academic honesty by reporting it to the professor whenever they see it going on.
Students who violate UMM's academic integrity and honesty code will face consequences according to University Policies which include being expelled.
Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

All-University Interpretation of Grades

A & A-: achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
B, B+ & B-: achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
C, C+,C-: achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect.
D, D+: achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
S : achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better (achievement required for an S is at the discretion of the instructor but may be no lower than a C-).
F (or N) : Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (see also I)
I (Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.
For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.

It is University policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. This publication/material is available in alternative formats to persons with disabilities upon request. Please contact the instructor or the Disability Services office, 589-6178, Room 362 Briggs Library to discuss accommodation needs.

PLEASE FEEL WELCOME TO SEE ME OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS, ANY TIME, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, OR COMMENTS PERTAINING THE COURSE WORK.

© 2001-2009 by Peh Ng
Last Modified Saturday, January 17, 2009
Page URL: http://www.morris.umn.edu/~pehng/Ma3401/syllabus.html

Back to Operations Research's Homepage or
back to Peh's Teaching Page .