Assignment 1

Source files for the assignment

The assignment instructions, and zip file providing all the necessary files.

Software Resources

Problem 1 (Assignment 1):

Effortless and free access to MIP solvers is provided by the NEOS Server for Optimisation (search for “mixed integer linear programming”). We then recommend you use the world-class commercial MIP solver Gurobi Optimizer (or, but only in case of a temporary licensing issue with Gurobi at NEOS, the open-source MIP solver HiGHS), via the AMPL modelling language: when using the NEOS server, you do not need to install the AMPL integrated development environment (IDE) or AMPL command-line interface (CLI) or a MIP solver. Use a commands file with option gurobi_options 'outlev=1'; solve; # Write display commands here: display ___; in order to turn on verbose printing, which includes the optimality gap.

The effort of installing the following free alternative is outside the course time budget (and we have no resources to help you with installation issues), since NEOS provides access to installed versions:

If you have and prefer to use your own hardware, then you can install AMPL bundled with Gurobi Optimizer by following by using the courses classroom licence. When this is available there will be instructions in the file installing-AMPL.txt in the Files section at the AD3 page of Studium: a course license was provided free-of-charge by AMPL.com. Use AMPL command option solver gurobi; option gurobi_options 'outlev=1'; before you run solve in order to turn on verbose printing, which includes the optimality gap.

If the class licence is not available, then you can download a free time limited version from AMPL.com. Using your academic email address it is possible to get an academic licence.

The AMPL book can be downloaded free of charge, but you normally do not need to read it, as the sample models on the lecture slides suffice.