Calculating Columns Using Complex Algorithms: Optimization Problems

As a Power BI analyst, you may be faced with interesting mathematical optimization problems. There may be times when you need to solve basic, yet critical, optimization questions without having expertise in advanced mathematical concepts. Linear programming (LP) has made its way into data analysis with its simple requirements and immediate applicability. To show you how effective and easy it is to apply LP techniques to real-world cases, you will see how to solve a simple demand optimization problem for a manufacturing company using both Python and R in Power BI.

This chapter will cover the following topics:

• The basics of linear programming
• Handling optimization problems with Python and R