MAST 324

Introduction to Optimization

3 credits · Undergraduate

Fall 2026

Topics

Linear-programming formulation and standard form
Diet, work-scheduling and blending problems
Basic feasible solutions and unboundedness
Simplex algorithm and minimization
Alternative optima, degeneracy and convergence
Big-M and two-phase methods
Sensitivity analysis
Duality, economic interpretations and shadow prices
Dual simplex method
Transportation problems and transportation simplex method

Readings

Hamdy A. Taha. Operations Research: An Introduction, 10th edition. Pearson.
Recommended / optional / reference
Listed textbook (requirement not stated): Wayne L. Winston. Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms, 4th edition. Brooks/Cole.
Listed reading

Winter 2026 · MAST 324

Readings

Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms, by Wayne L. Winston, Brooks/Cole, 4th Edition.
Listed reading; requirement unspecified

Winter 2024 · MAST 324

Readings

Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms, by Wayne L. Winston, Brooks/Cole, 4th Edition.
Listed reading; requirement unspecified

Winter 2023 · MAST 324

Readings

Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms, by Wayne L. Winston, Brooks/Cole, 4th Edition.
Listed reading; requirement unspecified

Winter 2022 · MAST 324

Readings

Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms, by Wayne L. Winston, Brooks/Cole, 4th Edition.
Listed reading; requirement unspecified

Sources

Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
Syllabus or course outline ↗Fall 2026
Historical course outline ↗Winter 2026
Historical course outline ↗Winter 2024
Historical course outline ↗Winter 2023
Historical course outline ↗Winter 2022
Fall 2026 outline. First-page course header is MAST 324; later footers incorrectly say MAST 234.
Historical source. Generic Textbook/References headings remain requirement-unspecified. Bibliographic editions and years are retained as printed; source inconsistencies may remain. Automated extraction with conservative filtering; distinct bibliography strings screened for false positives; entire syllabus not manually reviewed.
Historical source. Generic Textbook/References headings remain requirement-unspecified. Bibliographic editions and years are retained as printed; source inconsistencies may remain. Automated extraction with conservative filtering; distinct bibliography strings screened for false positives; entire syllabus not manually reviewed.
Historical source. Generic Textbook/References headings remain requirement-unspecified. Bibliographic editions and years are retained as printed; source inconsistencies may remain. Automated extraction with conservative filtering; distinct bibliography strings screened for false positives; entire syllabus not manually reviewed.
Historical source. Generic Textbook/References headings remain requirement-unspecified. Bibliographic editions and years are retained as printed; source inconsistencies may remain. Automated extraction with conservative filtering; distinct bibliography strings screened for false positives; entire syllabus not manually reviewed.