Second Example: Modeling (1.4) and

Practical Optimization (3.5)

An agent wants to maximize (or minimize) a certain variable, which we call the target variable. He or she does this by choosing the value for some so-called choice variable. There may be more variables involved, we call these the other variables. Consider the following example:

Two vertical poles, AB and CD, both 2m high and standing 3m apart, are connected by a rope, which is also anchored on the ground at point E. For which choice of E is the length of the rope minimized?

Look for another example

Erich Prisner, November 2004