A translation approach to teaching linear program formulation

While there have been many improvements in the teaching of operations research/management science (OR/MS) in recent years, students continue to have great difficulty with the process of constructing a linear programming model. We propose addressing this issue with a translation approach that breaks the process down into a series of small, well-defined steps. The underlying idea is to develop a representation of the problem in terms of measurable quantities that can then be translated, via application of an explicit rule, into the proper algebraic form and/or equivalent spreadsheet formulas. As background, related research on word problem solving from cognitive psychology and mathematical education is reviewed in the paper. We illustrate the translation approach with several examples and explain how using it can improve students' modeling skills. Preliminary data on the effectiveness of the methodology for undergraduate business students in an introductory MS course are also presented.