This chapter is addressed to students in fields of engineering and technology as well as practicing engineers.
It covers the fundamentals of commonly used optimization methods used in engineering design.
Optimization methods fall among the mathematical tools typically used to solve engineering problems.
It is therefore desirable that graduating students and practicing engineers are equipped with these tools
and are trained to apply them to specific problems encountered in engineering practice.
Optimization is an integral part of the engineering design process. It focuses on discovering optimum
solutions to a design problem through systematic consideration of alternatives, while satisfying resource
and cost constraints. Many engineering problems are open-ended and complex. The overall design