Development of Educational Linear Program Software Using VBA: LP-Tableau

Abstract

A spreadsheet-based linear program (LP) software, so called, the LP-Tableau is developed to aid users to learn the simplex algorithm systematically and to understand the various conditions that make the problem unusual and, in some instances, impossible to solve. The LP-Tableau has several good features over other spreadsheet-based LP software programs available. First, the data input in the LP-Tableau is very convenient especially when small-sized problems are analyzed. Further, the LP-Tableau allows for two solution methods (i.e., Big-M and Two-Phase) and displays the whole iterations in tableau format. Thus users can easily understand the principle of the algorithm step by step. Finally, the LP-Tableau visually displays various conditions of the optimal solutions that might occur in solving the LP problems.