A linear programming software for educational purposes

Linear programming (LP) is a general technique which allows to model a great range of problems, in particular, problems arising in the field of Industrial Engineering. That is why LP draws a remarkable importance in mathematical methods for Industrial Engineering students in the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM). In this paper the authors present a program which has been devised to improve the learning of methods involved in solving linear programming problems. The main novelty of the program consists in those modules which allow the user to follow in different degrees of detail the operations involved in achieving the optimal solution to the problem at hand. The user can examine in detail the effects of making right or wrong choices with regard to the rules involved in solving a LP problem. Both students at home and the professor in class can take advantage of the program.