Final answer:
An objective function is a mathematical expression that represents the goal or objective in a mathematical optimization problem.
Step-by-step explanation:
An objective function is a mathematical expression that represents the goal or objective in a mathematical optimization problem. It is used to determine the optimal solution to the problem. An example of an objective function could be:
Maximize 3x + 2y
subject to the constraints:
- x + y ≤ 10
- 2x + y ≤ 15
- x, y ≥ 0
In this example, the objective is to maximize the expression 3x + 2y. The constraints define the limits on the values of x and y. The solution to the problem would be the values of x and y that maximize the objective function while satisfying the constraints.