Optimization is a field important in its own right but is also integral to numerous applied sciences, including operations research, management science, economics, finance and all branches of mathematics-oriented engineering. Constrained optimization models are one of the most widely used mathematical models in operations research and management science.

This book gives a modern and well-balanced presentation of the subject, focusing on theory but also including algorithims and examples from various real-world applications. The text is easy to read and accessible to anyone with a knowledge of multi-dimensional calculus, linear algebra and basic numerical methods. Detailed examples and counter-examples are provided - as are exercises, solutions and helpful hints, and Matlab/Maple supplements.

The intended readership is advanced undergraduates, graduates, and professionals in any of the applied fields.

Dr. Wilhelm Forst is a professor in the Department of Numerical Analysis at the University of Ulm, Germany.

Dr. Dieter Hoffmann is a professor at the University of Konstanz, Germany.

Drs. Forst and Hoffman previously co-authored two German language books for Springer-Verlag: Funktionentheorie explore with Maple (2002) and Ordinary Differential Equations (2005).