linear programming: Meaning and Definition of

lin'ear pro'gramming

Pronunciation: [key]
— Math. Math.
  1. any of several methods for finding where a given linear function of several nonnegative variables assumes an extreme value and for determining the extreme value, the variable usually being subjected to constraints in the form of linear equalities or inequalities.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.