Excel Solver Example © 2004 Vertex42, LLC

"Finding a Local Minimum Using the Excel Solver" - Jon Wittwer

Excel Solver Article

Goal:
Find the value of x that minimizes f,
subject to -1 ≤ x ≤ 5 f  x2  x  2
25
Objective Function
f 2
20

Design Variables 15
x 1
10

Constraints 5
x≥ -1
x≤ 5 0
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
x (min) -1
x (max) 5

x f
-1 4
-0.85 3.5725
-0.7 3.19
-0.55 2.8525
-0.4 2.56
-0.25 2.3125
-0.1 2.11
0.05 1.9525
0.2 1.84
0.35 1.7725
0.5 1.75
0.65 1.7725
0.8 1.84
0.95 1.9525
1.1 2.11
1.25 2.3125
1.4 2.56
1.55 2.8525
1.7 3.19
1.85 3.5725
2 4
2.15 4.4725
2.3 4.99
2.45 5.5525
2.6 6.16
2.75 6.8125
2.9 7.51
3.05 8.2525
3.2 9.04
3.35 9.8725
3.5 10.75
3.65 11.6725
3.8 12.64
3.95 13.6525
4.1 14.71
4.25 15.8125
4.4 16.96
4.55 18.1525
4.7 19.39
4.85 20.6725
5 22