Microsoft Excel includes a workbook, Solvsamp.xls in the Office\Samples folder, that demonstrates the types of problems you can solve.
You can use the sample worksheets in Solvsamp.xls to help you set up your problems. To use any of the six worksheets— Product Mix, Shipping Routes, Staff Scheduling, Maximizing Income, Portfolio of Securities, and Engineering Design— open the workbook, switch to the worksheet you want to use, and then click Solver in the Analysis group on the Data tab. The objective cell, constraint cells, and decision variable cells for each Solver model are already specified:
Worksheet | Objective | Constraints | Decision Variables |
Quick Tour | Profit (Max) | Advertising budget | Ad spending by quarter |
Product Mix | Profit (Max) | Parts inventory on hand | Number of products to build |
Shipping Routes | Shipping Cost (Min) | Supplies at plants, demands at warehouses | Number of products to ship on each route |
Staff Scheduling | Payroll Cost (Min) | Employees needed each day of the week | Number of employees on each of 7 weekly schedules |
Maximizing Income | Interest Earned (Max) | Cash balance at end of each month | Amount to invest in 1-, 3- and 6-month CDs |
Portfolio of Securities | Portfolio Return (Max) | Portfolio total and risk (variance) | Percentage to invest in each of 4 stocks plus T-bills |
Engineering Design | Charge (Value Of) | None | Resistor value in circuit |
Comments on each worksheet explain more about each Solver model. To find an optimal solution, click Solve.