Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 212 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Introduce integer-valued slack variables and . Write . The initial simplex dictionary isIn the simplex algorithm, let enter. The first constraint is the only limiting one, so leaves at . Substitution givesNow enters and leaves: its ratio is smaller than the first row's ratio . The resulting simplex dictionary isAll nonbasic objective coefficients are nonpositive, and the basic values are nonnegative. Thus the continuous linear program has optimum
For integer programming, a row with integer variables yields the Gomory fractional cut , where is the fractional part. In the first row, the coefficient of on the left is , whose fractional part is , not . The two possible initial Gomory fractional cuts are thereforeIndeed . Choose the second row: implies , so its cut removes a strictly larger portion of the feasible polygon. This compares both printed alternatives before any further integer rounding.
Use the normalized integer slack variable , rather than an unnecessarily scaled cut slack. At the current basis,The simplex dictionary is dual feasible but primal infeasible. In the dual simplex algorithm, leaves; the ratios of objective loss to improvement of this negative basic value are for and for , so enters. The pivot givesThe relaxed optimum is now , still nonintegral. The fractional row gives the next Gomory fractional cutThe negative left-hand coefficient of also has fractional part . Normalize the new integer slack variable as . Its dictionary row is . The dual simplex algorithm chooses to enter: its ratio is , compared with for . Substitution givesSetting the nonbasic to zero gives a feasible integer solution. The final objective row bounds every point in the cut relaxation by , so the integer optimum isBoth cuts are valid for every original integer feasible point, making this also a certificate for the original integer program.
Simplex optimality criterion 2026-10-14
In a feasible minimization simplex dictionary, the nonbasic variables are nonnegative. If every reduced cost , the displayed objective identity proves for every feasible point. Thus the current basic feasible solution is globally optimal. If all reduced costs are strictly positive, equality forces every nonbasic variable to vanish and gives a unique basic solution, provided the dictionary determines all basic variables.