n.
Field of applied mathematics whose principles and methods are used to solve quantitative problems in disciplines including physics, biology, engineering, and economics.
Questions of maximizing or minimizing function s arising in the various disciplines can be solved using the same mathematical tools (see maximum ; minimum ). In a typical optimization problem, the goal is to find the values of controllable factors determining the behaviour of a system (e.g., a physical production process, an investment scheme) that maximize productivity or minimize waste. The simplest problems involve functions (systems) of a single variable (input factor) and may be solved with differential calculus . Linear programming was developed to solve optimization problems involving two or more input variables. See also simplex method .