Linear Programming
The process of creating programs that find optimal solutions for systems of equations (composed of linear functions) in which the terms given are not sufficient to derive a straightforward solution.
LP (also called linear optimization) is a method to achieve the best outcome (such as maximum profit or lowest cost) in a mathematical model whose requirements are represented by linear relationships. Linear programming is a special case of mathematical programming (also known as mathematical optimization). More formally, linear programming is a technique for the optimization of a linear objective function, subject to linear equality and linear inequality constraints. Its feasible region is a convex polytope, which is a set defined as the intersection of finitely many half spaces, each of which is defined by a linear inequality. Its objective function is a real-valued affine (linear) function defined on this polyhedron. A linear programming algorithm finds a point in the polytope where this function has the smallest (or largest) value if such a point exists.
⠀ Microsoft Computer Dictionary.--5th ed Edition Microsoft Press 2002 – 648 c. – 321