Operations Research: An Introduction (8th Edition) [Hardcover]

Hamdy A. Taha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0131889230 | ISBN-13: 978-0131889231 | Edition: 8

Significantly revised, this book provides balanced coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. The applications and computations in operations research are emphasized. Significantly revised, this text streamlines the coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. Numerical examples are effectively used to explain complex mathematical concepts.  A separate chapter of fully analyzed applications aptly demonstrates the diverse use of OR. The popular commercial and tutorial software AMPL, Excel, Excel Solver, and Tora are used throughout the book to solve practical problems and to test theoretical concepts.  New materials include Markov chains, TSP heuristics, new LP models, and a totally new simplex-based approach to LP sensitivity analysis.  

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Major revision is designed to meet the needs of beginning through advanced students with an emphasis placed on the formulation and applications aspects. Provides balanced coverage of theory, applications and computations of operations research techniques. Numerical examples are main vehicle for explaining new ideas with each numeric example followed by a set of problems. TORA and SIMNET software included in text. More than 1,000 problems. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

Operations Research: An Introduction

 

Eighth Edition

 

Hamdy A. Taha

 

This eighth edition streamlines the presentation of text material, providing a balanced coverage of the theory, applications, and computations of operations research. Complex mathematical concepts are explained by means of carefully designed examples. Practical applications are presented using multitudes of examples, targeted problems, fully developed case analyses, and case studies, all borrowed from situations published in the literature. Computations are supported throughout the text both at the commercial level (using AMPL^®, Solver, and Excel^®) and at the tutorial level (using the popular and user-friendly TORA™).

 

New Text Material:

 

·        Chapter 2 is dedicated entirely to formulating linear programming models, with new applications in urban renewal, currency arbitrage, investments, production planning, and blending.  New end-of-section problems deal with topics ranging from water quality management and traffic control to warfare.

·        Chapter 3 presents the general LP sensitivity analysis, including dual prices and reduced costs, as a direct extension of the simplex tableau computations.

·        Chapter 4 is now dedicated to LP post-optimal analysis based on duality.

·        A combined nearest neighbor-reversal heuristic (with generic Excel implementation) is presented for the traveling salesperson problem in Chapter 9.

·        Markov chains treatment has been expanded into a new Chapter 17.

·        The totally new Chapter 24 on the CD presents 15 fully developed real-life applications with summaries given in pertinent chapters.  The analysis, which often cuts across more than one OR technique (e.g., heuristics and LP, or ILP and queuing), deals with the modeling, data collection, and computational aspects of solving the problem (CD-ROM only). 

·        The new Appendix E on the CD includes approximately 50 mini cases of real-life situations. 

·        More than 1000 end-of-section problem are included in the book.

·        Each chapter starts with a guide that facilitates the understanding of the material and the effective use of the accompanying software.

·        All computer-related material has been deliberately compartmentalized in subsections to minimize disruptions in the main presentation of the book.

 

New Software Implementations:

 

·        AMPL, the widely-used commercial modeling language, is integrated throughout the book with examples from linear/nonlinear/integer programming and networks.  The examples also demonstrate AMPL’s superior interactive capabilities for model experimentation. 

·        To facilitate learning the language, AMPL’s full syntax is given in Appendix A and cross-referenced in the book examples.

·        Excel spreadsheet implementations include dynamic programming, traveling salesperson, inventory, AHP, Bayes’ probabilities, “electronic” statistical tables, queuing, simulation, Markov chains, and nonlinear programming.  Interactive user input in some spreadsheets is designed to promote better understanding of the underlying techniques. 

·        The use of Excel Solver has been expanded, particularly in the areas of linear, network, integer, and nonlinear programming. 

·        TORA continues to play the key role of tutorial software.

 

On the CD-ROM

 

·        AMPL language (student version) with numerous fully developed models.

·        TORA, the updated and easy-to-use tutorial optimization system.

·        Numerous fully-developed AMPL models.

·        General ready-to-use Excel spreadsheet templates.

·        Numerous fully-developed Excel Solver models.

·        Four supplemental chapters and two appendixes.

 

Pearson Prentice Hall

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

 

www.prenhall.com

 

ISBN: 0-13-188923-0

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 813 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131889230
• ISBN-13: 978-0131889231
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #643,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, July 29, 2005

By 

OR user (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operations Research: An Introduction (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have used this book as a student some 20 years ago and continue to use it today in my line of work. I was surprised to read a CS student complaining that the book does not provide any LP theory. Huh! Apparently the reviewer did not go past the first two chapters because Chapter 7 gives all the necessary mathematical foundation for linear programming. The reviewer also talks about "signedness" difficulty in the book, something I don't understand because "signedness" is not a word in English. As for TORA, true the software is not an "orthodox" Windows development per se particularly for CS majors, but I find it refreshing that it is desigend to eliminate the need for a user manual. And this perhaps is the reason TORA is designed that way. It is very easy to use, and it can be used interactivly (with instant feedback) to help the reader understand the algorithmic details of the different OR techniques. I might also add that I used TORA's LP and IP modules many many times and have compared the results with those from AMPL and Excel Solver. Contrary to the CS reviewer claim,TORA always gave the correct answers. In summary, this book explains the basics of OR (theory, applications and computations)in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner using multitudes of examples. It is no wonder that it has been a leading textbook worldwide for over 35 years.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book, Period!, October 8, 2005

By 

A Professor (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operations Research: An Introduction (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I just want to respond to the CS major from Denmark. If he/she is that knowlegeable about what OR should or should not include, what is he/she doing taking an introductory course in the subject? This is not a book about writing computer codes for algorithms to please CS majors. It is a book that offers a comprehensive treatment of all three aspects of operations research (theory, applications, and computations), and it does it admirably. Also, if the CS major has read past the first few chapters, he/she will find all the LP/IP theory he/she desires. I belive that TORA is one of the best tutorial programs I (and my students) have ever used. It is easy to use and it gives instant feedback to actions initiated by the user. Also, as far as I know, TORA always gives the correct answers. I am currently teaching an introductory class from Taha's book, and I am very pleased with it (not to mention that its page count is about half the size of the competition -- without loss of substance, I must add)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book for introductory course, May 5, 2005

By 

Hari K Rajagopalan (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Operations Research: An Introduction (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is a good book for an Management Science course book which does not go deep into theory. Primarily its good for business majors, however there are better books for business majors who dont want to be involved with the math using Excel exclusively. Ragsdales book comes to mind.

However, there are plenty problems solved and so if you are one of those people who learn through solving problems this is a decent book.

For theory and math pick Bazraas book on LP and NLP or Model Building by Paul Williams which I think is an excellent book.