Two modelling approaches using spreadsheets for the transportation assignment problem

Abstract

This paper presents two modelling approaches for teaching the transportation assignment problem that have been very successful in teaching and learning. We have illustrated it using a numerical example and formulated two spreadsheets models using the popular spreadsheet package Microsoft Excel. In the first approach, we formulated an algebraic model, then transfered it to a spreadsheet. In the second approach, we formulated a spreadsheet model directly by using spreadsheet modelling techniques. We have demonstrated that students can understand and solve the transportation assignment problem more easily using these two approaches.