Solver Based on Lookup

[ExcelKid_10]

hi all-

say I am having some trouble with using the solver based on a look up.

what i have is simply a table is a three column table based on rank (input) that does a look up and pulls in a cost accordingly. I am trying to find the optimal combination of a series with the constraint value being 100. A quick example would be:

Rank Cost Product
1 37 shoes
5 40 pants
7 13 shirts
Total 100

I am really trying to get the highest rank per product without going over my constraint of 100. The only caveat is that the ranks for these are based on each products ranking respective to its product line. Is this possible or am I using the solver wrong.

Thanks!

EK

 

[Glove_Man]

I doubt it's possible becuase solver uses algebraic methods and this is fundamentally a discrete (and hence discontinuous) mathematics problem.

The problem as you've described is also not going to provide a unique solution. For example, if each pair of shoes and each pair of pants costs $30 then the solutions:

2 shoes, 1 Pants or 1 shoes 2 pants

can't be told apart.


Philip