MA427 Half Unit
Mathematical Optimisation
This information is for the 2018/19 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Giacomo Zambelli
Availability
This course is available on the Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MiM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MSc in Applicable Mathematics and MSc in Operations Research & Analytics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Pre-requisites
Students must have sufficient knowledge of linear algebra (linear independence, determinants, matrix inversion and manipulation) and of basic multivariate calculus (derivatives and gradients).
Course content
Introduction to the theory and solution methods of linear and nonlinear programming problems, including: linear programming duality, Lagrangian duality, convex programming and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions, algorithms for linear and convex optimisation problems, theory of good formulations for integer linear programming models, integer linear programming methods (branch and bound and cutting planes).
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.
Formative coursework
Weekly exercises will be given that will be solved and discussed during the seminars. Two of those exercises will be handed in as formative coursework and the students will be given feedback on their submissions.
Indicative reading
Extensive lecture notes covering all parts of the course will be provided. Students interested in further readings can look at the books below.
- D Bertsimas and J N Tsitsiklis, Introduction to Linear Optimization (1997)
- S Boyd and L Vandenberghe, Convex Optimization (2004)
- M Conforti, G Cornuejols, G Zambelli, Integer Programming (2014)
Assessment
Exam (90%, duration: 3 hours) in the summer exam period.
Coursework (10%) in the LT.
The 10% coursework will be based on marked exercise sets during LT.
Key facts
Department: Mathematics
Total students 2017/18: 33
Average class size 2017/18: 17
Controlled access 2017/18: No
Lecture capture used 2017/18: Yes (LT)
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Problem solving
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills