DECISION MODELING WITH MICROSOFT EXCEL

Chapter 4
Linear Optimization: Sensitivity Analysis
Part 2
Copyright 2001 Prentice Hall Publishers and Ardith E. Baker

Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis is the effect a (small) change of an exogenous variable has upon another variable.

In the case of optimization models, sensitivity analysis refers to the process of analyzing such changes in a model after the optimal solution has been found.

We will use 2-dimensional graphs (i.e., only two decision variables) to give insight into LP sensitivity analysis. In addition, we will use Solver Sensitivity Report and SolverTable. 2

Oak Products Model

Lets return to the Oak Products model of Chapter 3. In this simplified model, there are only two decision variables: Captains chairs (C ) Mates chairs (M ) Now, review the symbolic model containing the objective function and constraints.

Symbolic Model

Max 56C + 40M (objective function) Subject to

8C + 4M < 1280 (Long Dowels Restriction)

4C + 12M < 1600 (Short Dowels Restriction)

C + M > 100
4C + 4M < 760 C < 140 M < 120

(Minimum Production)
(Legs Restriction) (Heavy Seats Restriction) (Light Seats Restriction)

C > 0 and M > 0 (Nonnegativity Conditions) 4

Sensitivity Analysis

Changes in the Objective Function Coefficients

Suppose that the constraint data remain unchanged and only the objective coefficients are changed. The only effect on the model, is that the slope of the isoprofit line will change. By changing the coefficients of the Oak Products models objective function, you can see that some of those changes will not necessarily change the optimal solution, even though the isoprofit lines will have a different slope.
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In general, the Allowable Increase and Allowable Decrease entries indicate how much a given decision variables Objective Coefficient may change, holding all the other data in the model constant, and still have the same LP solution.
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Sensitivity Analysis

Changes in Constraint Right-Hand Sides

Ignoring the objective function, lets observe the effects of right-hand-side changes for inequality constraints. You can use GLPs graphical analysis to explain the effects of changes in these parameters. You can see the effects of changing the righthand-side of the inequality by changing that number directly, by dragging the constraint line or by clicking on the buttons next to each constraint in GLP.
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Note that: Tightening an inequality constraint means making it more difficult to satisfy.

For a > constraint, this means increasing the RHS. For a < constraint, this means decreasing the RHS. Tightening either contracts the feasible region or leaves it unaffected.

Loosening an inequality constraint means making it easier to satisfy.

For a > constraint, this means decreasing the RHS. For a < constraint, this means increasing the RHS.

Loosening either expands the feasible region or leaves it unaffected. 8

Sensitivity Analysis

RHS Sensitivity and the Shadow Price

For the Oak Products Model, first hold all numbers fixed except for the inventory of Long Dowels. Let us change the inventory from L=1280 to L=1281, L=1320, and L=1350. Since this constraint is the < form, increasing the RHS results in loosening the constraint, making it easier to satisfy. The geometric interpretation is that the feasible region is expanding.

L=1281

Note that the constraints on Legs and Long Dowels continue to be binding. The optimal solution is C=130.25 and M=59.75
For a maximum profit of $9684 (an increase of $4, the

shadow price).

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Note that: The shadow price of a given constraint is the change per unit increase in RHS with all other data held fixed. It is called a shadow price because its value is masked or shadowed until the model is optimized and sensitivity analysis is done by Solver. In economic theory, the shadow price is sometimes called a reservation price.

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When L = 1280, the shadow price of 4 is valid for an allowable increase (in L) of 40 Long Dowels and an allowable decrease of 180 Long Dowels. For L values between 1000 and 1320 Long Dowels, the change in the OV for each unit of RHS inventory increase, with all other data held fixed, is $4/Long Dowel.

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L=1320

Now three constraints are binding.

The optimal solution is C=140 and M=50 For a maximum profit of $9840.

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Here is the corresponding Solver Solution:

Again, note 3 binding constraints and only 2 positive decision variables. When an LP solution has more binding constraints 14 than positive variables, it is called degenerate.

Here is the corresponding Sensitivity Report:

Degeneracy can lead to some anomalies when interpreting this report. Note the allowable increase/decrease for some shadow prices = 0.

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When L = 1320, the shadow price remains at 4, but the allowable increase is 0, which means that the value 4 does not apply to RHS values any larger than 1320. Indeed, the geometric analysis shows that the constraint becomes non-binding and redundant when L > 1320. Small changes in the RHS of a non-binding constraint cannot affect the OV, and hence for a non-binding constraint the shadow price will always be zero.
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Note that: The interpretation of the shadow price is valid only within a range for the given RHS. This range is specified by the Allowable Increase and Allowable Decrease columns in the Constraints section of the Sensitivity Report.

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L=1350

The binding constraints are now Legs and Heavy Seats. The optimal solution is C=140 and M=50 For a maximum profit of $9840.

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Here is the corresponding Solver Solution:

The Long Dowels constraint is now non-binding. 19 The shadow price is now $0.

When L = 1350, we see that now, with the relevant constraint non-binding, the shadow price is indeed zero and the allowable increase is infinite. That is, for any further increase in L, the constraint will remain non-binding and the shadow price will remain 20 at the value 0.

Note that: The shadow price of a non-binding constraint will always be zero. A non-binding constraint means that the constraint has slack or surplus.

The RHS sensitivity information that the Sensitivity Report provides does not tell us how the optimal decisions for C and M change. It merely explains the way in which the OV will change as the RHS changes.
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Sensitivity Analysis

Using SolverTable

SolverTable.xla is a DataTable-like
macro to re-optimize and tabulate an LP model after each change in its parameters.

Similar to Excels DataTable, SolverTable knows how to re-Solve the LP model for each change before tabulating any results.

SolverTable can also tabulate the information in the Solver Sensitivity Report.
SolverTable is not restricted to two-variable 22 models.

Sensitivity Analysis with SolverTable

To begin using SolverTable, open the SimpleOakProd.xls workbook.

Open the add-in file SolverTable.xla. Click on the resulting Enable Macros button.

SolverTable will install itself and be available as a 23 menu item on the Tools menu.

RHS Ranging with SolverTable

To illustrate SolverTable, start with the Simplified Oak Products model.

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First a range of RHS parameter values for the constraint are entered as data in a column (or a row).

Next, enter a row of references to model output cells.

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Now, highlight the table by click-dragging and choose SolverTable from the Tools pull-down menu.

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In the resulting dialog, specify the cell location of the Long Dowel constraints RHS in the Input Column Cell edit field.

Click OK to run Solver on the model for each Long Dowels constraint RHS value (in this case for 11 optimizations).
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SolverTable tabulates the requested model results referenced in the tables columns.

The shadow price changes abruptly each time a different set of constraints combine to determine the optimal corner point. 28

Here are the corresponding GLP pictures of the Oak Products model for the Long Dowels Starting Inventory amounts (L). L = 400

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L = 480

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L = 800

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L = 1100

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L = 1320

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Sweeping the values of L from 400 to 1350 causes the feasible region to expand until the Long Dowels constraint becomes redundant.
L = 1350

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SolverTable can mimic DataTable 2 to tabulate simultaneous variations in two parameters, with the restriction that only one output cell can be tabulated. To illustrate, a range of parameter values for the inventory constraint RHS values for both Long and Short Dowels will be analyzed. Using the Oak Products model, start by setting up the table, in this case with a range of parameter values for both parameters. 35

Now, click on Tools SolverTable and in the resulting dialog, specify cell $F$7 as the Input Row Cell and $F$6 as the Input Column Cell.

Click OK to continue.

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SolverTable will run Solver on the model for each paired combination of Long and Short Dowels constraint RHS values (108 optimizations in this case), and for each run, tabulate the single Profit result referenced in the tables upper left corner.

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Sensitivity Analysis

Objective Function Coefficient Ranging with SolverTable

Similar to ranging an RHS, first set up a table with values of the objective function coefficient in a column or row.

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As before, click on Tools SolverTable and in the resulting dialog, specify cell $B$3 as the Input Column Cell.

Click OK to continue.
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Here are the results of the SolverTable analysis. Notice that the objective function coefficients for profit per Captain chair are the coefficient values at which the LP solution changes (as shown by the Allowable Increase).

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Here are the corresponding GLP pictures of the Oak Products model for the Captain objective function coefficient values (V). Note how the corner point solution changes abruptly for critical values of V. V=0

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V = 13.334

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V = 40

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V = 80

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Sweeping the values of V from 0 to 99999 causes the objective function to rotate from horizontal to nearly vertical in slope. V = 99999

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Sensitivity Analysis

Technical Coefficient Ranging with SolverTable

SolverTable can be used to investigate alternative production technologies. Suppose Oak Products were to consider the option of strengthening or slightly weakening a Mate chair by increasing or decreasing the number of long dowels it uses. Lets examine the economic effects of reducing the number of long dowels per Mate chair from the current 4 to 2, and increasing the number above 4. 46

As before, first set up a table in Excel and run SolverTable. In the SolverTable dialog, specify $C$6 (no. of Mates in the Long Dowel constraint) as the Input Column Cell.

Here is the resulting solution:

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Increasing the number of long dowels per Mate chair from 4 to 6 reduces the optimal number of Mates to produce (with an associated increase in Captains), with a net reduction in Profit.

Reducing the number of long dowels per Mate chair from 4 to 2 also reduces the optimal number of Mates (with an associated increase in Captains), but with a 48 net increase in Profit.

Sensitivity Analysis

Eastern Steel Example

Ore from four different locations is blended to make a steel alloy. Each ore contains three essential elements (A, B, and C) that must appear in the final blend at minimum threshold levels. Find the cost-minimizing blend by solving the following LP model (Ti = fraction of a ton of ore from location i).
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Eastern Steel Symbolic Model

Min 800T1 + 400T2 + 600T3 + 500T4 s.t. 10T1 + 3T2 + 8T3 + 2T4 > 5 (requirement on A) 90T1 + 150T2 + 75T3 + 175T4 > 100 (requirement on B) 45T1 + 25T2 + 20T3 + 37T4 > 30 (requirement on C)

T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 = 1 (blend condition) T1 , T2 , T3 , T4 > 0 (nonnegativity constraints) 50

Here is the Excel spreadsheet:

Next, run Solver and specify the Sensitivity Report.

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Look at the Reduced Cost column:

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The Reduced Cost of any particular decision variable is defined to be the amount by which the coefficient of that variable in the objective function would have to change in order to have a positive optimal value for that variable.

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The Reduced Cost of a decision variable (whose optimal value is currently zero) is the rate (per unit amount) at which the objective value is hurt as that variable is forced into a previously optimal solution.

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Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity Report Interpretation for Alternative LP Models

In this example, the Friendly Loan Company has an annual $15 million loan budget. Profit is generated by the annual interest income from three types of loans: Real Estate (First Mortgage; 7%) Furniture Loans (12%)

Signature Loans (15%)

In addition, Friendly requires at least 60% First Mortgage loans and no more than 10% Signature 55 loans.

Here is the spreadsheet model:

Note how compact the model is. The constraints are immediately adjacent to the quantities they affect and are custom formatted to include the inequality while still being read as a number.
Empty cells are shaded in order to focus attention on the important things.
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Here are the spreadsheet formulas:

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Using Solver, specify the parameters and solve the model.

Be sure to specify the Sensitivity Report.

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The resulting Solver analysis shows that all $15 million will be loaned out ($9 million into First Mortgage Loans, $1.5 million into Signature loans, and $4.5 million into Furniture loans).

The annual Total interest income will be $1,395,000 with an average return of 9.3%.

All three constraints are binding.

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Here is the Sensitivity Report for the model:

The Shadow Price of .12 indicates that a 12% return can be achieved on any budget increase. In addition, the Allowable Increase value indicates that we can increase the budget as much as we want (infinitely).

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Verify Solvers Sensitivity Report by typing a new budget limit into the spreadsheet and Solving.

Notice that the Avg. Return for this model is still 9.3%. This indicates that the marginal return for the extra $5 million is actually 9.3% and not 12% as indicated by the previous Sensitivity Analysis.
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The Sensitivity Analysis for this model shows a shadow price of .12 (12%), the same as the previous model.

To understand what is happening, re-formulate the model using the recommended rules from 62 Chapter 3.

Here is the reformulated spreadsheet model:

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And the resulting Sensitivity Analysis from Solver:

Note the presence of 3 constraints and the correct Shadow Price of 9.3%. The solution is not degenerate and none of the 64 constraints are binding.

Sensitivity Analysis

Simple Upper and Lower Bounds

Now that we have looked at both spreadsheet models (the compact model vs. the recommended LP model), it would seem that they give different results. However, both models are completely correct, and neither Sensitivity Report contains any errors. To understand the differences, look at simple upper and lower bounds.
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The time and memory requirements for Solver to optimize a model are determined primarily by the size of the coefficient matrix of cells making up the LHS of the set of constraints.

The size of the constraint coefficient matrix is proportional to the product of the number of decision variables and constraints. This size effects speed of optimization. In addition to nonnegativity constraints, Solver allows any upper or lower constraint bounds directly on the decision variables to be honored without actually considering them as constraints. This keeps the coefficient matrix smaller, 66 allowing larger LP models to be optimized.

However, the only sensitivity information available for any simple upper and lower bound constraints are their shadow prices. Solver places any non-zero shadow price on an upper or lower bound constraint into the Reduced Cost column next to the relevant decision variable. The Reduced Cost numbers for Solver LP models containing simple upper and lower bounds are the shadow prices for whichever bound, if any, is binding on that decision variable.
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The table below gives values the Reduced Cost shadow price entry may have in Solver models containing simple upper and lower bounds.
Value of Decision Variable at Optimality
Lower Bound (>) Binding Upper Bound (<) Binding Neither Bound Binding

Reduced Cost Entry, Maximization Model

Zero or Negative Shadow Price Zero or Positive Shadow Price Zero Shadow Price

Reduced Cost Entry, Minimization Model

Zero or Positive Shadow Price Zero or Negative Shadow Price Zero Shadow Price

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Solver invokes its special bounding procedure whenever it sees Changing Cells cell references in the Subject to the Constraints: box of the Solver Parameters dialog.

Solver will not evoke this procedure if the upper or lower bound on any decision variable is specified indirectly on the worksheet.
This indirect reference can be achieved by the use of some intervening formula, such as the SUMPRODUCT formula.

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Sensitivity Analysis

Shadow Price Interpretation

Although the shadow price given in the two different models was correct, the interpretation of that price was incorrect. Remember, a shadow price is the change in the LPs OV per unit of change in a given constraints RHS value holding all other data, including the other RHSs, constant.

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So, for example, the correct interpretation of the shadow price of .120 should be : Holding the Loan Limit RHSs for Signature and First Mortgage loans at their original dollar amount bounds of $1500 and $9000, respectively, the improvement in the objective function value is .12 for each additional budget dollar.

The use of simple upper and lower bounds and the use of formulas on RHSs of LP formulations can lead to more compact and managerially appealing spreadsheet formulations of LPs. 71

Sensitivity Analysis Summary

Objective coefficients
slope of iso-profit line

Right-hand sides of Constraints

shadow price

Technological coefficients
solver table

Upper/Lower bounds on variables

reduced costs

Alternative models

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