Linear Programming and Network Flows

Rating:
Summary: Excellent but DENSE!!!!
Review: I am currently working toward a Ph.D. in Management Science and used this book for a LP course. If you can get past the matrix algebra (which isn't too terribly difficult) you will find that this book contains more practical LP information than any other resource available. However, those looking for a "how to" book on linear programming might want to try a more elementary text first. This book is geared toward those interested in the more advanced computational aspects of LP (e.g., revised simplex method, LU decomposition, product form of the inverse, bounded variables, etc.). The chapter on sensitivity analysis is particularly well written and thorough. But beware, this book packs more info per page than I have ever seen!!!

Rating:
Summary: Best Math oriented LP book
Review: I used this book as part of my grad level LP course that covered the first half of the book. Let me start out by saying that this is by no means a beginner's book. This book assumes a strong Linear Algebra and basic OR (assumes you know the Simplex method solution procedure, etc.) knowledge.If you are looking to get these OR prerequisites, then refer to the basic OR books by Hillier & Lieberman, Wayne Winston, Ignizio & Cavalier or A. Ravindran; this book is not for you.

This book is outstanding for understanding the theory and mathematical mechanics of LP and the first half of the book covers this comprehensively. The excercises in this book are outstanding (and can be hard). For those who need this book but are weak or rusty on the basics (like I was :) ) refer to one of the books above (I liked the Ignizio & Cavalier book a lot). I can't comment on the Network flows part of the book but it will almost surely be excellent if it is anything like the first half.

An excellent book for the intended audience.

Rating:
Summary: Strong Graduate Treatment in Linear Programming
Review: I used this text while taking a graduate linear programming (LP)course on LP and network flows. I really liked the treatment. The typesetting was clear ,consistent and easily followed (not as good as Nash and Sofer's). The book also includes lots of nice side discussion on how or why the theory is the way it is. Plenty of references are offered for further study. Proofs were not rigorous. The highly mathematical reader may be disappointed by the "show proof" style used instead of a rigorous theorem-proof style. In fact, I seem to recall a time or two where the theorem came after the usage. For me, I didn't mind that, but a pure math guy would likely grind his teeth.

The network material was acceptable. I personally thought the text problems were not of the best quality. I would suggest a teacher supplement their own favorites outside of the book.

One caution is that the book is somewhat aged. I noticed a text like Nash and Sofer seems to have newer updates on the theory.

Overall, a great read for getting into the nitty gritty details of LP.