Solving Linear Programming Problems with Grey Data

Abstract

A Grey Linear Programming problem differs from an ordinary one to the fact that the coefficients of its objective function and / or the technological coefficients and constants of its constraints are grey instead of real numbers. In this work a new method is developed for solving such kind of problems by the whitenization of the grey numbers involved and the solution of the obtained in this way ordinary Linear Programming problem with a standard method. The values of the decision variables in the optimal solution may then be converted to grey numbers to facilitate a vague expression of it, but this must be strictly checked to avoid non creditable such expressions. Examples are also presented to illustrate the applicability of our method in real life applications.