Excel Solver Examples

The workbook provides 3 examples of using Excel Solver to find optimal solutions for decision problems.

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Examples:
• Example 1. Calculating minimal cost per service
• Example 2. Magic box
• Example 3. Transportation optimization problem
cel Solver Examples
rkbook provides 3 examples of using Excel Solver to find optimal solutions for decision problems.

Ablebits.com
23-May-16
How to use Solver in Excel with examples

e 1. Calculating minimal cost per service

e 2. Magic box
e 3. Transportation optimization problem
NEW SERVICE ANALYSIS

Cost of new equipment $40,000

Projected clients per month 45
Cost per service $73.51

No. of months to pay for equipment 12

Problem
You need to calculate the minimal cost per service (B5) that will let you pay for the new equipment within the specified timeframe.

Solution
1. The Objective is cell B7 that contains a formula to calculate the number of months to pay for the new equipment.

2. The Variable cells are:

B4 - Projected clients per month

B5 - Cost per service

3. The Constraints are:

B3=40000 - cost of the new equipment is $40,000.

B4<=50 - the number of projected patients per month in under 50.
 Magic Square Row Sum
4 3 8 15
9 5 1 15
2 7 6 15
Column Sum 15 15 15

Diagonal SUM 15
15

Problem
Put numbers from 1 to 9 in cells B2:D4 so that each row, column and diagonal adds up to 15.

Solution
1. The Objective cell - none.

2. The Variable cells - B2:D4.

3. The Constraints are:

$B$2:$D$4 = AllDifferent
$B$2:$D$4 = integer
$B$5:$D$5 = 15
$E$2:$E$4 = 15
$B$7:$B$8 = 15
 645816883.xlsx

Cost of shipping ($ per product)

Customer 1 Customer 2 Customer 3 Customer 4
Warehouse 1 $1.00 $3.00 $0.50 $4.00
Warehouse 2 $2.50 $5.00 $1.50 $2.50
Number of products shipped
Customer 1 Customer 2 Customer 3 Customer 4 Total shipped Available
Warehouse 1 35,000 22,000 3,000 0 60000 <= 60000
Warehouse 2 0 0 15,000 30,000 45000 <= 80000
Total received 35000 22000 18000 30000
Ordered 35000 22000 18000 30000
Total Shipping Cost $200,000.00

Problem
You want to minimize the cost of shipping goods from 2 different warehouses to 4 different customers. Each warehouse has a limited supply and
each customer has a certain demand.

Solution
1. The Objective is to minimize cost. This is cell C12, named Shipping_cost.

2. The Variable cells are those containing the number of products to ship from each warehouse to the customers. These are cells B2:E8, given the
name Products_shipped.

3. The Constraints are:

Total_received (B9:E9) = Ordered (B10:E10)

Total_shipped (G7:G8) <= Available (I7:I8)

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