Introduction

There exist numerous textbooks on optimization techniques; however, the objective of this book is to establish a connection between the theoretical underpinnings of optimization techniques and their pragmatic application in complex real-world scenarios. Therefore, it is neither a book that overly emphasizes abstract mathematical theory nor a textbook illustrating how to solve small mathematical programming problems manually. Rather, it strives to equip readers with the understanding and skills necessary to model and solve practical mathematical programming problems. The chapters combine modeling with an introduction to state-of-the-art optimization techniques to solve a real-life problem. The book imparts an understanding of how theory and practice converge when confronted with the choice of an appropriate algorithm, and the question of how to improve a formulation, or how to use a commercial mixed-integer programming solver effectively. It serves as a comprehensive guide that navigates the intricate interplay between theoretical foundations and real-world applications in the realm of optimization.