Solver Max
@solvermax.com
We help you make better optimization models in Excel or Python.
Optimization blog: https://www.solvermax.com/blog
#orms resources: https://www.solvermax.com/resources
Optimization blog: https://www.solvermax.com/blog
#orms resources: https://www.solvermax.com/resources
Article: Jury simulation using SimPy
We design and build a SimPy model of jury summoning to reduce the number of people required.
This model highlights a key lesson for simulation modelling in general: details matter, sometimes a lot.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/jury-si...
We design and build a SimPy model of jury summoning to reduce the number of people required.
This model highlights a key lesson for simulation modelling in general: details matter, sometimes a lot.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/jury-si...
July 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Article: Jury simulation using SimPy
We design and build a SimPy model of jury summoning to reduce the number of people required.
This model highlights a key lesson for simulation modelling in general: details matter, sometimes a lot.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/jury-si...
We design and build a SimPy model of jury summoning to reduce the number of people required.
This model highlights a key lesson for simulation modelling in general: details matter, sometimes a lot.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/jury-si...
Efficient jury empanelling: Respecting people's time
We describe a simulation model of the jury selection process. The goal is to explore how the needs of the justice system can be met while respecting the time of people who report for jury service.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/efficie...
We describe a simulation model of the jury selection process. The goal is to explore how the needs of the justice system can be met while respecting the time of people who report for jury service.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/efficie...
June 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Efficient jury empanelling: Respecting people's time
We describe a simulation model of the jury selection process. The goal is to explore how the needs of the justice system can be met while respecting the time of people who report for jury service.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/efficie...
We describe a simulation model of the jury selection process. The goal is to explore how the needs of the justice system can be met while respecting the time of people who report for jury service.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/efficie...
The muffin problem: A slice of recreational maths
We solve 'The Muffin Problem': divide muffins equally between students, maximizing the smallest piece.
Our MILP model is solved in parallel with symmetry-breaking constraints and objective bounds.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/the-muf...
We solve 'The Muffin Problem': divide muffins equally between students, maximizing the smallest piece.
Our MILP model is solved in parallel with symmetry-breaking constraints and objective bounds.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/the-muf...
May 3, 2025 at 4:35 AM
The muffin problem: A slice of recreational maths
We solve 'The Muffin Problem': divide muffins equally between students, maximizing the smallest piece.
Our MILP model is solved in parallel with symmetry-breaking constraints and objective bounds.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/the-muf...
We solve 'The Muffin Problem': divide muffins equally between students, maximizing the smallest piece.
Our MILP model is solved in parallel with symmetry-breaking constraints and objective bounds.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/the-muf...
Pivot irrigators in a 100 acre field
We formulate a non-linear, non-convex model for optimizing the layout of centre-pivot irrigators in a field.
Several solvers fail to find good solutions. Can the MINLP-BB solver via NEOS find an optimal solution?
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/pivot-i...
We formulate a non-linear, non-convex model for optimizing the layout of centre-pivot irrigators in a field.
Several solvers fail to find good solutions. Can the MINLP-BB solver via NEOS find an optimal solution?
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/pivot-i...
April 2, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Pivot irrigators in a 100 acre field
We formulate a non-linear, non-convex model for optimizing the layout of centre-pivot irrigators in a field.
Several solvers fail to find good solutions. Can the MINLP-BB solver via NEOS find an optimal solution?
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/pivot-i...
We formulate a non-linear, non-convex model for optimizing the layout of centre-pivot irrigators in a field.
Several solvers fail to find good solutions. Can the MINLP-BB solver via NEOS find an optimal solution?
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/pivot-i...
Locational marginal pricing of potatoes
We apply Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) to the supply of potatoes. The article describes the model, calculation of LMPs, and scenarios for how the suppliers and contractors may respond to the price signals.
#orms #pyomo
www.solvermax.com/blog/locatio...
We apply Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) to the supply of potatoes. The article describes the model, calculation of LMPs, and scenarios for how the suppliers and contractors may respond to the price signals.
#orms #pyomo
www.solvermax.com/blog/locatio...
March 7, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Locational marginal pricing of potatoes
We apply Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) to the supply of potatoes. The article describes the model, calculation of LMPs, and scenarios for how the suppliers and contractors may respond to the price signals.
#orms #pyomo
www.solvermax.com/blog/locatio...
We apply Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) to the supply of potatoes. The article describes the model, calculation of LMPs, and scenarios for how the suppliers and contractors may respond to the price signals.
#orms #pyomo
www.solvermax.com/blog/locatio...
Reposted by Solver Max
How I built an AI company to save my open source project
On this day, 3 years ago, my world fell apart. It was a Thursday. I just finished my second meeting that morning, looked at my inbox and realized it was over. My life’s work was over.
Read more:
timefold.ai/blog/how-i-b...
On this day, 3 years ago, my world fell apart. It was a Thursday. I just finished my second meeting that morning, looked at my inbox and realized it was over. My life’s work was over.
Read more:
timefold.ai/blog/how-i-b...
How I built an AI company to save my open source project
The story of Timefold: how we turned a doomed open source project into a fast-growing PlanningAI company.
timefold.ai
February 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
How I built an AI company to save my open source project
On this day, 3 years ago, my world fell apart. It was a Thursday. I just finished my second meeting that morning, looked at my inbox and realized it was over. My life’s work was over.
Read more:
timefold.ai/blog/how-i-b...
On this day, 3 years ago, my world fell apart. It was a Thursday. I just finished my second meeting that morning, looked at my inbox and realized it was over. My life’s work was over.
Read more:
timefold.ai/blog/how-i-b...
That's a great story.
I've been intending to add Timefold to our list of optimization modelling resources. Your post prompted me to do so: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
I've been intending to add Timefold to our list of optimization modelling resources. Your post prompted me to do so: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
February 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
That's a great story.
I've been intending to add Timefold to our list of optimization modelling resources. Your post prompted me to do so: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
I've been intending to add Timefold to our list of optimization modelling resources. Your post prompted me to do so: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Permission granted: A role mining model
We implement a recently published role mining model using both constraint programming and mixed integer linear programming, then compare their relative performance while solving several examples.
www.solvermax.com/blog/permiss...
#orms #pyomo #ortools
We implement a recently published role mining model using both constraint programming and mixed integer linear programming, then compare their relative performance while solving several examples.
www.solvermax.com/blog/permiss...
#orms #pyomo #ortools
February 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Permission granted: A role mining model
We implement a recently published role mining model using both constraint programming and mixed integer linear programming, then compare their relative performance while solving several examples.
www.solvermax.com/blog/permiss...
#orms #pyomo #ortools
We implement a recently published role mining model using both constraint programming and mixed integer linear programming, then compare their relative performance while solving several examples.
www.solvermax.com/blog/permiss...
#orms #pyomo #ortools
New item in our list of #orms resources:
Collection of videos from Associate Professor Alberto Del Pia, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
There are around 100 videos, collated into playlists relating to specific optimization papers taught at the university.
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Collection of videos from Associate Professor Alberto Del Pia, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
There are around 100 videos, collated into playlists relating to specific optimization papers taught at the university.
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
February 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
New item in our list of #orms resources:
Collection of videos from Associate Professor Alberto Del Pia, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
There are around 100 videos, collated into playlists relating to specific optimization papers taught at the university.
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Collection of videos from Associate Professor Alberto Del Pia, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
There are around 100 videos, collated into playlists relating to specific optimization papers taught at the university.
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Optimal rational approximation using SciPy
In this article we solve a non-linear curve fitting problem using the SciPy library. We illustrate SciPy's curve_fit and minimize functions and look at some good practices.
#python #scipy #orms
www.solvermax.com/blog/optimal...
@johndcook.bsky.social
In this article we solve a non-linear curve fitting problem using the SciPy library. We illustrate SciPy's curve_fit and minimize functions and look at some good practices.
#python #scipy #orms
www.solvermax.com/blog/optimal...
@johndcook.bsky.social
January 7, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Optimal rational approximation using SciPy
In this article we solve a non-linear curve fitting problem using the SciPy library. We illustrate SciPy's curve_fit and minimize functions and look at some good practices.
#python #scipy #orms
www.solvermax.com/blog/optimal...
@johndcook.bsky.social
In this article we solve a non-linear curve fitting problem using the SciPy library. We illustrate SciPy's curve_fit and minimize functions and look at some good practices.
#python #scipy #orms
www.solvermax.com/blog/optimal...
@johndcook.bsky.social
We've added the "Book Proofs" blog by Laurent Lessard @laurentlessard.bsky.social to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
December 23, 2024 at 8:58 PM
We've added the "Book Proofs" blog by Laurent Lessard @laurentlessard.bsky.social to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Absolutely. A MILP is a very impractical way of compiling a crossword. The goal was to see if it would work, which it mostly does. The contrast with 1989 is also remarkable.
December 23, 2024 at 3:08 AM
Absolutely. A MILP is a very impractical way of compiling a crossword. The goal was to see if it would work, which it mostly does. The contrast with 1989 is also remarkable.
Just for fun, I created a Mixed Integer Linear Program for compiling crosswords www.solvermax.com/blog/crosswo...
Solver Max - Crossword MILP - Model 1
We use a mixed integer linear program to compile crossword grids
www.solvermax.com
December 22, 2024 at 3:07 AM
Just for fun, I created a Mixed Integer Linear Program for compiling crosswords www.solvermax.com/blog/crosswo...
We've added the "Feasible" blog, written by Borja Menéndez, to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
December 20, 2024 at 7:10 AM
We've added the "Feasible" blog, written by Borja Menéndez, to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
We've added the "Princeton Consultants' Optimization" blog to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
December 16, 2024 at 9:36 PM
We've added the "Princeton Consultants' Optimization" blog to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
We've added the Cornell "Computational optimization open textbook" to our list of #orms resources: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
December 14, 2024 at 7:06 AM
We've added the Cornell "Computational optimization open textbook" to our list of #orms resources: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
We've added the blog by @richardoberdieck.bsky.social to our list of #orms resources: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Please comment to suggest other #orms resources, like blogs, courses, online textbooks, etc. that we can add.
Please comment to suggest other #orms resources, like blogs, courses, online textbooks, etc. that we can add.
December 8, 2024 at 10:40 PM
We've added the blog by @richardoberdieck.bsky.social to our list of #orms resources: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...
Please comment to suggest other #orms resources, like blogs, courses, online textbooks, etc. that we can add.
Please comment to suggest other #orms resources, like blogs, courses, online textbooks, etc. that we can add.
While solving MIPs using AI seems like a pointless exercise, I did use an AI to find the paper you're referring to. So, AIs are good for some things.
December 4, 2024 at 11:19 PM
While solving MIPs using AI seems like a pointless exercise, I did use an AI to find the paper you're referring to. So, AIs are good for some things.
I've found ChatGPT & Claude somewhat better at programming, but much the same as Copilot for optimization model code.
Perhaps an AI trained specifically on models would be better. @gurobioptimization.bsky.social have started looking at AI, so we'll see what they find www.gurobi.com/resources/br...
Perhaps an AI trained specifically on models would be better. @gurobioptimization.bsky.social have started looking at AI, so we'll see what they find www.gurobi.com/resources/br...
Bridging the Optimization Skills Gap With Generative AI - Gurobi Optimization
How GenAI can make optimization tools more accessible and effective
www.gurobi.com
December 4, 2024 at 8:50 PM
I've found ChatGPT & Claude somewhat better at programming, but much the same as Copilot for optimization model code.
Perhaps an AI trained specifically on models would be better. @gurobioptimization.bsky.social have started looking at AI, so we'll see what they find www.gurobi.com/resources/br...
Perhaps an AI trained specifically on models would be better. @gurobioptimization.bsky.social have started looking at AI, so we'll see what they find www.gurobi.com/resources/br...
The process was a roller coaster. I was impressed by the AI's astuteness but frustrated by its strange mistakes.
I'm increasingly using AI for coding tasks - either straightforward yet time-consuming things, or to get syntax right for unfamiliar things. It mostly performs well in these situations.
I'm increasingly using AI for coding tasks - either straightforward yet time-consuming things, or to get syntax right for unfamiliar things. It mostly performs well in these situations.
December 4, 2024 at 6:09 PM
The process was a roller coaster. I was impressed by the AI's astuteness but frustrated by its strange mistakes.
I'm increasingly using AI for coding tasks - either straightforward yet time-consuming things, or to get syntax right for unfamiliar things. It mostly performs well in these situations.
I'm increasingly using AI for coding tasks - either straightforward yet time-consuming things, or to get syntax right for unfamiliar things. It mostly performs well in these situations.
Blog: Can AI code an entire optimization model?
We report our experience of using Copilot to write a non-trivial optimization model for us. We focus on what went well and what didn't go well, plus some general lessons from the process.
www.solvermax.com/blog/can-ai-...
#orms #copilot #llm #ai
We report our experience of using Copilot to write a non-trivial optimization model for us. We focus on what went well and what didn't go well, plus some general lessons from the process.
www.solvermax.com/blog/can-ai-...
#orms #copilot #llm #ai
December 4, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Blog: Can AI code an entire optimization model?
We report our experience of using Copilot to write a non-trivial optimization model for us. We focus on what went well and what didn't go well, plus some general lessons from the process.
www.solvermax.com/blog/can-ai-...
#orms #copilot #llm #ai
We report our experience of using Copilot to write a non-trivial optimization model for us. We focus on what went well and what didn't go well, plus some general lessons from the process.
www.solvermax.com/blog/can-ai-...
#orms #copilot #llm #ai
Though I object to paying 39,95 € just to look at an article. But that's a different issue.
November 20, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Though I object to paying 39,95 € just to look at an article. But that's a different issue.
Perhaps "often" is a bit harsh. But I'd have better evidence if the code is published too.
I hope you're right about the culture changing.
I hope you're right about the culture changing.
November 20, 2024 at 10:21 PM
Perhaps "often" is a bit harsh. But I'd have better evidence if the code is published too.
I hope you're right about the culture changing.
I hope you're right about the culture changing.
I suppose a formulation is better than nothing. But published formulations are often wrong.
For example in www.solvermax.com/blog/green-m... we get a better optimal solution.
In another case, our solution was worse than in the paper. In discussion with the author it emerged that the paper is wrong.🤷
For example in www.solvermax.com/blog/green-m... we get a better optimal solution.
In another case, our solution was worse than in the paper. In discussion with the author it emerged that the paper is wrong.🤷
Solver Max - Green manufacturing via cutting patterns
Solver model of a one dimensional cutting problem in Excel
www.solvermax.com
November 20, 2024 at 10:08 PM
I suppose a formulation is better than nothing. But published formulations are often wrong.
For example in www.solvermax.com/blog/green-m... we get a better optimal solution.
In another case, our solution was worse than in the paper. In discussion with the author it emerged that the paper is wrong.🤷
For example in www.solvermax.com/blog/green-m... we get a better optimal solution.
In another case, our solution was worse than in the paper. In discussion with the author it emerged that the paper is wrong.🤷
The Gomes, et al paper we summarize lists many reasons why academics may not publish code and data - along with mitigations that should encourage publication.
I approach this issue from a selfish perspective. When looking to the literature for help with a problem, a formulation is seldom sufficient.
I approach this issue from a selfish perspective. When looking to the literature for help with a problem, a formulation is seldom sufficient.
November 20, 2024 at 9:48 PM
The Gomes, et al paper we summarize lists many reasons why academics may not publish code and data - along with mitigations that should encourage publication.
I approach this issue from a selfish perspective. When looking to the literature for help with a problem, a formulation is seldom sufficient.
I approach this issue from a selfish perspective. When looking to the literature for help with a problem, a formulation is seldom sufficient.