Microsoft Excel: Using Solver for Decision Analysis

Discover how to use Excel Solver to find optimal solutions to problems that range from simple to complex.

Introduction

• Optimize your analysis in Excel
• What you should know before starting

1. Working with Solver

• Find target values using Goal Seek
• Introduce linear, nonlinear, and evolutionary programming
• Install the Solver add-in on Windows
• Organize a worksheet for use in Solver
• Find a solution using Solver
• Challenge: Create a Solver model
• Solution: Create a Solver model

2. Tuning Investment Portfolios

• Introduce the problem
• Organize the worksheet
• Create objective and control formulas
• Create and run the Solver model
• Experiment with different constraints
• Challenge: Tune an investment portfolio
• Solution: Tune an investment portfolio

3. Optimizing Resource Placement

• Introduce the problem
• Organize the worksheet
• Map store and depot locations
• Create objective and control formulas
• Create and run the Solver model
• Extend the model by adding population density
• Challenge: Optimize resource placement
• Solution: Optimize resource placement

4. Defining Decision Trees

• Introduce the problem
• Organize the worksheet
• Calculate the probability of reaching a node
• Calculate the expected value for the tree
• Challenge: Define a decision tree
• Solution: Define a decision tree

Conclusion

• Additional resources