An optimization problem is one where you have to make the best decision (choose the best investments, minimize your company’s costs, find the class schedule with the fewest morning classes, or so on).

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Beverly is a writer, editor, and paralegal specializing in personal finance and tax ...

Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug ...