Operations Research 2 unit (KMA255)

Hobart

Introduction

This unit teaches students skills and techniques that are used to answer practical questions arising in Operations Research. These questions typically also arise in Engineering, Management, Finance, Economics, and Teaching. For example, How long do I expect to have to wait for the next bus? How should I balance the products my factory makes, to maximise my profit? and What is the best way to send electricity from this set of power stations to these homes, to minimise power loss? Operations Research includes the solution of optimization problems, modelling, and simulation. This unit provides necessary background in probability and graph theory, and then using those tools introduces students to methods in modelling stochastic systems as Discrete Time Markov Chains, and analysing their expected behaviour. It also gives students tools, such as the Simplex Method, to solve Linear Programming optimization and Transportation problems, and heuristic methods to solve computationally intractable problems like the Travelling Salesman Problem. This unit is a required component of the Statistics and Decision Science major in the BSc.

Summary

Unit name	Operations Research 2
Unit code	KMA255
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences
Discipline	Mathematics
Coordinator	Professor Michael Charleston
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	21/2/2027	15/3/2027	18/4/2027	12/6/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Explain and apply fundamentals of probability and graph theory relevant to operations research.
• Analyse short- and long- term behaviour of discrete time Markov chains.
• Solve problems in linear programming using standard techniques.
• Select and apply standard heuristic methods to computationally intractable problems in operations research.
• Interpret and communicate mathematical arguments using appropriate terminology and notation, as they relate to problems in operations research.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Any KMA unit

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	3 x 1-hr lectures, 1 x 1-hr tutorial, 1x 1-hr workshop / computer lab
Assessment	Quiz 1: Probability and Basics of Graphs (5%)|Assignment 1 (10%)|Assignment 2 (10%)|Lab exercises (10%)|Tutorial Exercises (10%)|Quiz 2: Discrete Time Markov Chains (15%)|Examination (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.