Joble, Niña Maricarl February 24, 2020

QTB MWF 500 - 6:00 PM Prof. Nestley Sore

Studying Quantitative Techniques in Business for the first time has been very challenging

but at the same time, rewarding. As a Marketing Student, numbers and mathematics have always

been my weakness that’s why I knew that I needed to exert extra effort in order for me to do well

in this subject. The beginning of the class was very challenging for me but as class continued

throughout the prelim period, I got more comfortable with the lessons. For the first part of the

prelims, I learned a lot about Operations Research. For me, Operations Research focuses on

companies that effectively uses technology in order to be more efficient and it also the

application of analytical methods for the better decision making and real world problem solving

of the companies. In the second part, we studied Linear Programming. For me, Linear

Programming is a powerful tool to solve many problems that arise in many different areas of the

outside world, it is the most widely used technique in the decision making of businesses. It

involves no more than 2 variables, linear programming problems can be structured to minimize

costs as well as maximize profits. We can use linear programming through purchasing resources,

transportation, job assignments, production scheduling and mixing. Linear programming is

composed of three components. First is the decision variables. It is the controllable or

independent variables. Its values are unknown and are searched for to provide a feasible solution

and it can usually be the quantities of resources or number of units to be produced. Second is the

objective functions which is the mathematical expression in LP that maximizes profit or

minimizes cost. Third is the constraints which is the uncontrollable restrictions or requirements
and non negativity constraints is always included. In studying LP, I also learned how to do the

graphical method and locating the feasible area and its corner points which was my favorite part

of the lesson. Learning about simplex method was very overwhelming for me and I found it hard

to catch up but every time it is discussed I pay undivided attention in order for me to understand

the process of doing the simplex method. This prelim period has been a journey by itself and

even though I am having minor difficulties and I might not get the highest score in the class, I

will continue to stay motivated and looking forward to learn a lot more in the midterm and finals.