Frontline Systems, Excel Solver, optimization software, Solver Excel, simulation software
Solver.com
From Frontline Systems, developers of the Excel Solver.

Solver tutorials

Learn to use optimization for resource allocation, and Monte Carlo simulation for risk analysis of your model.


 

Premium Solver Platform - Finding Global Solutions with Multistart Methods

Finding Global Solutions with Multistart Methods

In the Premium Solver Platform, the GRG nonlinear Solver is augmented with "multistart" or "clustering" methods for global optimization.  It can be automatically run many times from judiciously chosen starting points, and the best solution found will be returned as the optimal solution. 

For some smooth nonlinear problems, multistart methods will converge in probability to the globally optimal solution. For other problems, they often yield very good solutions in an acceptable amount of time -- and of course, they are far easier to use than a manual exploratory process.  And you don't have to change your model at all to take advantage of these new global optimization capabilities!

GRG Solver Multistart Options (37918 bytes)

GRG Solver / Multistart
Options dialog

Faster Solution of Nonlinear Problems

Nonlinear problems often have some decision variables which occur linearly in the objective and constraints, while other variables occur nonlinearly (making the problem nonlinear overall). The Premium Solver Platform includes a new option for the GRG nonlinear solver, "Recognize Linear Variables," which allows the Solver to save time at each step when it computes partial derivatives of the problem functions. This option can make solution of nonlinear problems up to 50% faster, depending on the number of variables occurring linearly in the problem.

< Back to Premium Solver Platform Product Overview