--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the system exhibits a structure which…" description: "\"If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be also..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/george-dantzig-45974_action_if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which_41137.jpg" --- # If the system exhibits a structure which can be… ![“If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be also so quantified, then some computational method may be evolved for choosing the best schedule of actions among alternatives. Such use of…” quote by George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/george-dantzig-45974_action_if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which_41137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/george-dantzig-45974_action_if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which_41137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/george-dantzig-45974_action_if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which_41137.jpg) > “If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be also so quantified, then some computational method may be evolved for choosing the best schedule of actions among alternatives. Such use of mathematical models is termed mathematical programming.” [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mathematical programming translates real-world decision problems into formal models, enabling systematic optimization of actions. **In simple terms:** Formal models guide optimal decisions. Key Takeaway Modeling + optimization = best choices Themes optimization modeling decision theory operations research systems analysis Mood analytical strategic confident Type definition explanatory When to use this quote - production planning - resource allocation - scheduling - logistics - financial portfolio selection Key Concepts objective quantification alternative evaluation computational methods Practical Applications - optimizing supply chains - automating project timelines Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions must hold for the model to be reliable? - How does model granularity affect solution quality? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Computational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computational-339348/) [Exhibits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibits/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical/) [Mathematical Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-model-456402/) [Mathematical models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-models/) [Mathematical Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-programming-456401/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Schedules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedules/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Termed Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/termed-mathematical-456403/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [A theory is just a mathematical model to describe the observations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/a-theory-is-just-a-mathematical-model-to-describe-the-observations/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [What distinguishes a mathematical model from, say, a poem, a song, a portrait or any other kind of "model," is that the mathematical model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/what-distinguishes-a-mathematical-model-from-say-a-poem-a-song-a/) [John L. 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There is also a literature generated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shubik/there-is-a-history-of-mathematical-models-of-oligopolistic/) [Martin Shubik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shubik/) > [Modern economics is a set of formal models and equations purporting to fully determine human behaviour, at least in the economic realm. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/modern-economics-is-a-set-of-formal-models-and-equations-purporting/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“What if one were to want to hunt for these hidden presences? You can’t just rummage around like you’re at a yard sale. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kunzru/what-if-one-were-to-want-to-hunt-for-these-hidden-presences-you-can-t/) [Hari Kunzru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kunzru/) > [The sciences do not try to explain, they hardly even try to interpret, they mainly make models. 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If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-tarter/the-space-that-we-re-looking-through-is-nine-dimensional-if-you-build/) [Jill Tarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-tarter/) > [The magic of the mechanisms inside each genetic structure saying exactly where that nerve cell should go - the complexity of these mathematical models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-tsiaras/the-magic-of-the-mechanisms-inside-each-genetic-structure-saying/) [Alexander Tsiaras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-tsiaras/) > [As a graduate student, I wrote a long paper connecting the dots between mathematical models of learning and language development in children. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/as-a-graduate-student-i-wrote-a-long-paper-connecting-the-dots/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## More by George Dantzig > [The mathematician may be compared to a designer of garments, who is utterly oblivious of the creatures whom his garments may fit. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/the-mathematician-may-be-compared-to-a-designer-of-garments-who-is/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [True optimization is the revolutionary contribution of modern research to decision processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/true-optimization-is-the-revolutionary-contribution-of-modern/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [. . . it is interesting to note that the original problem that started my research is still outstanding - namely the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/it-is-interesting-to-note-that-the-original-problem-that-started-my/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [Industrial production, the flow of resources in the economy, the exertion of military effort in a war theater-all are complexes of numerous interrelated activities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/industrial-production-the-flow-of-resources-in-the-economy-the/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [Linear programming is viewed as a revolutionary development giving man the ability to state general objectives and to find, by means of the simplex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/linear-programming-is-viewed-as-a-revolutionary-development-giving/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [Industrial production, the flow of resources in the economy, the exertion of military effort in a war, the management of finances --all require the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/industrial-production-the-flow-of-resources-in-the-economy-the-2/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [Linear programming can be viewed as part of a great revolutionary development which has given mankind the ability to state general goals and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/linear-programming-can-be-viewed-as-part-of-a-great-revolutionary/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) [Explore all 8 George Dantzig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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