Päätösmuuttujien

Päätösmuuttujien, a Finnish term often translated as "decision variables" in English, refers to the variables in an optimization problem that a decision-maker can control or set. These are the quantities whose optimal values are sought to achieve a specific objective, such as maximizing profit or minimizing cost, subject to certain constraints.

In mathematical programming, decision variables are typically represented by symbols like x, y, or z. For example, in a production planning problem, decision variables might represent the number of units of each product to manufacture. The values assigned to these decision variables determine the outcome of the objective function and whether the constraints are satisfied. The process of optimization involves finding the set of values for the decision variables that yields the best possible result for the objective function while adhering to all limitations.

The nature of decision variables can vary widely depending on the problem. They can be continuous, meaning they can take any real value within a certain range (e.g., the amount of a chemical to use), or discrete, meaning they can only take specific, often integer, values (e.g., the number of machines to purchase). Binary decision variables, a subset of discrete variables, can only take values of 0 or 1, representing a yes/no decision, such as whether to undertake a particular project. Identifying and correctly defining the decision variables is a crucial first step in formulating any optimization problem.