Slack Value; Linear Programming

mlefcowitz · **Joined:** Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:43:53 UTC **Posts:** 1

I can not sem to find a good working definition of "slack value". It appears to be used to allow for the possibility of the variables being zero.

I'm hoping that a good definition of "slack value" will clear up how the slack value works.

Matt · **Joined:** Wed, 1 Oct 2003 04:45:43 UTC **Posts:** 9631

Slack variables change inequalities into equations.
For example, the constraint:

$\rule{0.1pt}{0.1pt}\qquad x+y\leq15$

can be changed to the equation:

$\rule{0.1pt}{0.1pt}\qquad x+y+s=15$

by introducing a new nonnegative value s called a slack variable.

S.O.S. Mathematics CyberBoard

Slack Value; Linear Programming

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