12/16/2014

Basic Software Applications Workshop

PEM M W04

MS Excel: Problem Solving Tools

Goal Seek
When you know the desired result of a single formula
but not the input value the formula needs to determine
the result, you can use Goal Seek.
Goal Seek are part of a suite of commands sometimes
called what-if analysis.
Goal Seek uses a process of changing the values in cells
to see how those changes affect the outcome of
formulas on the worksheet.
The command uses iteration in a controlled way to
obtain desired results.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

12/16/2014

Example
A simple problem might be You have 432 sheets of
paper to give out to a class of 36 students. How many
sheets of paper does each student get.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

Fixed Scenarios
Objective: To produce a report displaying the best (and
worst) results when faced with various options.
Scenarios come under the heading of "What-If Analysis" in
Excel. They are similar to tables in that you are changing
values to get new results.
For example, What if I reduce the amount I'm spending on
food? How much will I have left then?
Scenarios can be saved, so that you can apply them with a
quick click of the mouse.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

12/16/2014

Example
An example of a scenario you might want to create is a
family budget. You can then make changes to individual
amounts, like food, clothes, or fuel, and see how these
changes effect your overall budget.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

Using Solver
Objective: To find the optimal solution for a given problem,
subject to some known constraints.
You will use the Solver Add-in.
Solver is more powerful than Goal Seek for finding solutions
to problems by varying parameters.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

12/16/2014

A Simple Example
A childs rectangular play yard is to be built next to the
house. To make the three sides of the playpen, twentyfour feet of fencing are available. What should be the
dimensions of the sides to make a maximum area?

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

Steps for Using Solver

Read the problem.

Reread the problem.
Draw a picture or graph if appropriate.
Identify the given information

What are the variables?

What are the constants?
Are there any constraints?
Label the graph or picture.

What quantity needs to be maximized or minimized?

Find an appropriate equation for what needs to be
maximized or minimized
12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

12/16/2014

Example
An aluminium manufacturing company is working on
designs for soup cans. In one design they are going to use
the same gauge metal for the whole can, it costs $0.002
per square centimeter of aluminum. If the can must hold
430ml of soup what dimensions will minimize the cost of
the can.

12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

10

Example
An example of the type of problem for which Solver can be
used is as follows:
a drinks company plans to make a new drink consisting of a
mixture of fruit juice and soda;
each ounce of juice contains 0.25mg of sugar and 3mg of
Vitamin C and costs 3p to produce;
each ounce of soda contains 0.5mg of sugar and 1mg of
Vitamin C and costs 1p to produce;
the drink is to be sold in 10 ounce bottles and must contain at
least 10mg of Vitamin C and no more than 4mg of sugar.

The problem for the drinks manufacturer is to calculate

what mixture of the two ingredients will satisfy these
constraints at minimum cost.
12/16/2014

Prof. R. Singh, National Institute of

Construction Management & Research

11