Degeneracy
Degeneracy refers to the concept of getting a degenerate basic feasible solution in a LPP. The degeneracy in a LPP may occur
At the starting stage, when at least one basic variable is zero in the initial basic feasible solution.
At any following iteration when more than one basic variable is suitable to leave the basic and therefore one or more variables becoming zero in the subsequent iteration and the problem is said to be degenerate. There is no guarantee that the value of the objective function will get better, as the new solutions may stay degenerate. Consequently, it is possible to repeat the identical sequence of simplex iterations continuously without improving the solutions. This concept is called as cycling or circling.
Rules to avoid cycling
Divide every element in the tied rows with the positive coefficients of the key column in that particular row.
Compare the resultant ratios, column by column, first of all in the identity and then in the body, from left to right.
The row which firstly consists of the smallest algebraic ratio now contains the leaving variable.
Example 1
Max Z = 3x1 + 9x2
Subject to
x1 + 4x2 ≤ 8
x1 + 2x2 ≤ 4
& x1 ≥ 0, x2 ≥ 0
Answer
Standard LPP
Max Z = 3x1 + 9x2 + 0s1 + 0s2
x1 + 4x2 + s1 = 8
x1 + 2x2 + s2 = 4
x1 , x2 , s1, s2 ≥ 0
Cj→
3
9
0
Basic Variables
CB
XB
X1
X2
S1
S2
XB / XK
S1 / X2
s1
8
1
4
1/4
s2
2
0/2→
Z = 0
-3
↑
-9
←Δj
-1
x2
1/2
Z =18
3/2
9/2
As all Δj ≥ 0, optimal basic feasible solution is achieved. Thus the solution is Max Z = 18, x1 = 0, x2 = 2
Note - As there is a tie in minimum ratio (degeneracy), we determine minimum of s1 /xk for these rows for which the tie exists.
Example 2
Max Z = 2x1 + x2
4x1 + 3x2 ≤ 12
4x1 + x2 ≤ 8
4x1 - x2 ≤ 8
Max Z = 2x1 + x2 + 0s1 + 0s2 + 0s3
4x1 + 3x2 + s1 = 12
4x1 + x2 + s2 = 8
4x1 - x2 + s3 = 8
x1 , x2 , s1, s2, s3 ≥ 0
Basic Varibles
S3
S1 / X1
S2 / X1
12
12/4=3
8/4=2
4/0=0
s3
0/4=0→
-2
4/4=1
0→
x1
-1/4
-
Z = 4
-3/2
-1/2
1/8
16
3/4
0 4
1 2
2 3/2
-1/8
3/8
Z = 5
As all Δj ≥ 0, optimal basic feasible solution is achieved. Hence the solution is Max Z = 5, x1 = 3/2, x2 = 2
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