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------------------------------------------------ Why is it recommended to write out a linear programming problem before using Microsoft Excel's Solver?

Writing out a linear programming problem before using Excel's Solver is crucial for understanding the problem's structure and ensuring the inclusion of all constraints in the model. It aids in starting from a reasonable initial guess, leading towards a global optimization, and is essential for a critical evaluation of Solver's results.

Explanation:

It is recommended to write out a linear programming problem before using Microsoft Excel's Solver because it helps in understanding the problem's structure, constraints, objectives, and variables. By thoroughly defining the problem, you can ensure that all the necessary constraints (such as physical limitations) are included in your model and that a proper initial guess is chosen for the Solver. Having a good starting point and a well-defined problem can prevent Solver from being led astray by local optima and can help in achieving a global optimization.

Furthermore, being familiar with the problem allows you to critically evaluate Solver's results and ensures that they are sensible, which is essential because Solver can sometimes provide misleading outcomes. Excel's Solver is a numerical method for solving optimization problems that requires concrete numerical problems, making it different from abstract functions and graphs used in more theoretical approaches.