This article is from the Spreadsheets FAQ, by Russell Schulz casfaq@locutus.ofB.ORG with numerous contributions by others.
these products take as inputs:
- starting data
- relations
- desired outcome
and attempt to vary the data to achieve the outcome exactly. they
do this by making small changes to the data, observing whether the
outcome is closer or further, and either making a larger change or
making the change in the opposite direction.
http://www.maths.mu.oz.au/~worms/digest/software/spreadsheets.html
[error 2001/Apr/18]
http://www.maths.mu.oz.au/~worms/digest/software/excel97.html
[error 2001/Apr/18]
A Linear Programming Example
http://www.cs.adfa.oz.au/~mariamf/ms3e/spreads.htm
[error 2001/Apr/18]
12.1 included (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
many spreadsheets include such a rudimentary facility
12.2 Frontline Systems (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
http://www.frontsys.com/
12.3 New Light Industries (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
These are general-purpose optimizers that work with Excel, and which
can be used to find the set of inputs that maximize or minimize a
profit, cost, or other value calculated in an Excel spreadsheet.
http://www.iea.com/~nli/
http://www.iea.com/~nli/products/genetic_algorithms/main.htm
12.4 What'sBest [sic] (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
http://www.lindo.com/
12.5 Mathematical Programming Services (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
http://www.matpro.com/
12.6 MoreVision Layout (Spreadsheet Optimizers / Solvers)
http://www.morevision.com/
http://www.morevision.com/side.htm
 
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