Math 170: Linear Programming

Engagement, Technology, Optimization

Course Description

Catalog description: Theory of linear programming, duality, simplex method, integer programming, applications.

Course Characteristics: Enrollment: 25 with Component as Discussion. Math 170 is one upper division of Applied Math Courses as elective for our majors, offered once per year. As an elective course, this course serves as one applied course for math majors with applied emphasis.

Overview of the Redesign Project

The main objective of this project is to update and revise the curriculum topics on optimization by creating a course project which can be used in instruction for the courses. Teaching with the project will not only motivate students’ learning, but also provide hands-on and engaging opportunities for students to learn and gain experiences of problem-solving in real world application settings. In addition, with technology (software such Gurobi, and Pivotal Tools) students can gain more understanding of tools of problem-solving in the course.

CLO 1: Developing knowledge base: Students will get more familiar with linear programming tools so that they can use it in their own research both in social sciences and applied sciences. The students will have a good understanding of both the theory and practice for solving linear programming problems arising in the business research.

CLO 2: linear programming techniques for solving and modeling some

fundamental decision making problems arising in the daily business life.

CLO 3: Determine whether a problem can be formulated as a linear programming problem.

Course Project:

Photomosaic is a picture made up of many smaller pictures (building blocks). In this project, our building blocks are sets of double dominos. Start a target image, our goal is to use dominos to create photomosaic image to be as close as the target image.

Assessment of the Redesign Project

**Sample examples**
Photomosaic Example	Photomosaic Example	Pivot Tool Example

Reflection

Success: I had completed the redesign project, and tested several times successfully. And also with using software mentioned, I had verified solutions as well.

Challenges: While working on the redesign project, I had to reflect on challenges appeared in classes, How to motivate students’ learning more? So objective of taking a math class is not just for the sake of credits towards graduation, more importantly, it is about developing capabilities of critical thinking and problem-solving.

Next step; I plan to use this redesign project in my future teaching on topics of linear programming.

Faculty Biography

This table includes my faculty biography.
	My name is Bin Lu. I am professor in Department of Mathematics and Statistics. I joined Sac State in 2003 after finishing my post doctoral position at Arizona. Being trained as a pure mathematician, I am also interested in alternative/innovative instruction strategies.

**Program Sponsors**
	This work was supported by: Sacramento State Anchor Initiative Sacramento State Academic Affairs - Center for Teaching and Learning