Integer Programming
A mathematical optimization technique where some or all of the decision variables are strictly constrained to take on integer values.
Think of It Like This
Like trying to buy exactly the right combination of whole apples and oranges with a specific budget, since you can't buy half an apple.
Integer programming is notoriously difficult (often NP-hard) compared to continuous optimization because the feasible region is discrete. It is used in complex logistical problems like scheduling, routing, and resource allocation. Advanced solvers use techniques like branch-and-bound or cutting planes to find optimal solutions.