Deck 8: Evolutionary Solver: An Alternative Optimization Procedure

Question 1

A traveling salesman problem with a starting city and 10 other cities that must be visited has 1,826,800 possible solutions.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Which of the following is not a step in a genetic algorithm

A) Generating a population 
B) Creating a new generation 
C) Culling the population 
D) Evaluating a stopping condition

Answer 2

C

Question 3

For a minimization problem being solved using a genetic algorithm,chromosomes that have a smaller fitness function have a lesser chance of surviving to the next generation.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Crossovers are rare as a genetic algorithm is generating chromosomes for the next generations.

Question 5

In Evolutionary Solver,the initial population is chosen randomly,so the starting solution you enter in the changing cells is irrelevant.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a form of non-linear pricing

A) Two-part tariff 
B) Surplus value 
C) Selling only single item packs or packs of n items 
D) Charging one price for the first n items and another price for the rest

Question 7

If you let a genetic algorithm run long enough,it is guaranteed to find the solution to any optimization problem.

Question 8

Genetic algorithms are not guaranteed to be fast,but they make up for it by being flexible.

Question 9

Evolutionary Solver is primarily used to solve models where:

A) some or all of the changing cells are restricted to be binary and/or integer 
B) the objective cell and constraints are "smooth" functions of the changing cells 
C) there are numerous constraints 
D) the objective call and constraints are "nonsmooth" functions of the changing cells

Question 10

Mutations are useful for getting a genetic algorithm "unstuck".

Question 11

Which of the following is true regarding Evolutionary Solver

A) It is efficient at handling constraints 
B) A good starting is required to be  successful finding a solution 
C) It places more of a burden on you to specify certain parameters of the algorithm 
D) Running it a second time for a problem should yield the same solution

Question 12

Evolutionary Solver works best when constraints are applied as:

A) penalties 
B) shortages 
C) capacities 
D) targets

Question 13

For which of the following problems is the alldifferent constraint particularly useful

A) nonlinear pricing 
B) shortest path 
C) estimating an S shaped relationship 
D) portfolio optimization

Question 14

The number of possible paths in a shortest path problem with n locations is:

A) n 
B) n − 1 
C) n2 
D) n!

Question 15

Which of the following is not one of the Excel functions that necessitate the use of Evolutionary Solver to obtain solutions

A) SUM 
B) IF 
C) MAX 
D) MIN

Question 16

The objective function in a genetic algorithm is called a:

A) chromosome 
B) fitness function 
C) population 
D) generation

Question 17

The initial set of chromosomes generated by a genetic algorithm is called the population.

Question 18

The Evolutionary Solver setting that helps the algorithm explore a completely different area of the feasible region is:

A) convergence 
B) mutation rate 
C) population size 
D) random seed

Question 19

Combinatorial problems have only a finite number of feasible solutions.

Question 20

With two-part tariff pricing,it is assumed that a customer buys the quantity that provides the largest difference between value and total price.

Question 21

Exhibit 8-1
Six storage bins on a railroad train are available for shipment of grain from Kansas City to Dallas. Three of the bins can hold 1500 bushels of grain each, while the other three can hold 750 bushels each. There are four types of grain that can be shipped, and the amount demanded, unit shortage cost and maximum allowable shortage for each are:
If the maximum allowable shortage is exceeded for any grain, a $100/bushel penalty is incurred.

Refer to Exhibit 8-1.This is an example of what type of optimization problem

Question 22

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-4.Suppose Steve moves to Los Angeles.What is the shortest distance in this case

Question 23

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-4.Suppose Steve's company decides to locate a second salesperson in the region.Steve will now cover only Denver,Albuquerque,El Paso,Phoenix and Salt Lake City.The second salesperson will cover Los Angeles,San Diego,San Francisco,Portland,Seattle and Las Vegas.Formulate and solve shortest-path models for both salespersons.Is the total mileage for both salespersons more or less than in the case where Steve is the only salesperson

Question 24

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-3.Given that the unit cost of the gourmet snack is $2.50,use a two-part tariff price model and evolutionary solver to determine the best pricing strategy.

Question 25

Exhibit 8-2
A television station has commercials of the following lengths (in seconds): 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, and 60. The commercials must be assigned to 90-second breaks. If a commercial break exceeds 90 seconds, a penalty cost is incurred. Station managers have established a penalty of $100 (per second) if the maximum limit is exceeded. Moreover, station owners want commercial breaks that are at least 65 seconds in duration. If any break fails to achieve this minimum duration, then a $1000 penalty (per occurrence) is charged.
Refer to Exhibit 8-2.What is the fewest number of breaks that are needed to air all eight of the commercials

Question 26

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-4.Formulate and solve a shortest-path model using Evolutionary Solver.What is the shortest distance Steve can travel and visit all cities
What is the route

Question 27

Exhibit 8-1
Six storage bins on a railroad train are available for shipment of grain from Kansas City to Dallas. Three of the bins can hold 1500 bushels of grain each, while the other three can hold 750 bushels each. There are four types of grain that can be shipped, and the amount demanded, unit shortage cost and maximum allowable shortage for each are:
If the maximum allowable shortage is exceeded for any grain, a $100/bushel penalty is incurred.

Refer to Exhibit 8-1.How should the train be loaded to minimize shortage and penalty costs

Question 28

Exhibit 8-2
A television station has commercials of the following lengths (in seconds): 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, and 60. The commercials must be assigned to 90-second breaks. If a commercial break exceeds 90 seconds, a penalty cost is incurred. Station managers have established a penalty of $100 (per second) if the maximum limit is exceeded. Moreover, station owners want commercial breaks that are at least 65 seconds in duration. If any break fails to achieve this minimum duration, then a $1000 penalty (per occurrence) is charged.
Refer to Exhibit 8-2.Explain why this problem typically requires Evolutionary Solver to obtain a solution.

Question 29

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-3.Due to a social media frenzy,the third customer segment now attaches more value to this gourmet snack. All of the prices it is willing to pay have increased by 20%. How does this change the recommended pricing strategy
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Question 30

Exhibit 8-3
A gourmet snack company is seeking assistance with its pricing strategy.  Information about market size and customer sensitivity to price for the three market segments are provided below.

Refer to Exhibit 8-3.Given that the unit cost of the gourmet snack is $2.50,use a single price model and evolutionary solver to determine the best unit price for them to charge.