This course covers formulation of mathematical models and developing solution methods for real–life optimal decision problems. The students are trained to learn how to obtain the best decisions (according to a well–defined objective) in allocating scarce resources such as capital, materials, equipment, manpower, energy, etc. among competing activities that produce goods and services. Rather than developing a specific solution method for each optimization problem, the students will build abstractions of these problems in the form of mathematical models and study a general method to solve these models.