Higher Education · Operations Research
Integer Programming
What is it
Integer programming is linear programming with the added restriction that some or all variables must take whole-number values, reflecting real situations where fractional solutions (like 2.5 aeroplanes) don't make sense.
Why it matters
Many real optimisation problems are fundamentally about whole, indivisible units — staff schedules, delivery routes, equipment purchases — and integer programming is what makes optimisation genuinely applicable to these everyday business decisions.
Exam tip
Remember that simply rounding a linear programming solution to the nearest integer doesn't guarantee an optimal (or even feasible) integer solution — dedicated techniques like branch and bound are needed for a properly justified answer.
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