Assignment Problem in Excel Using Solver

Where is Solver in Excel and how do you enable it?

Solver ships with Excel but is disabled by default. Go to File → Options → Add-ins → Manage Excel Add-ins → Go → tick Solver Add-in → OK. It then appears on the Data tab. On Mac, the same path applies; if Solver is missing entirely, update Office or use the web version for the assignment.

How do you set up the assignment problem step by step?

Lay out the cost matrix (workers × tasks). Mirror it with a blank binary matrix for decisions. Total cost = SUMPRODUCT(costs, decisions). Add row-total and column-total cells. In Solver: Set Objective to total cost, To Min, By Changing the binary cells, subject to binary constraints plus row sums = 1 and column sums = 1, solving method Simplex LP. Solve and keep the solution.

• 1.Cost matrix + mirrored binary decision matrix
• 2.Objective: =SUMPRODUCT(costs, decisions), minimize
• 3.Constraints: decisions binary; each row = 1; each column = 1
• 4.Method: Simplex LP (not GRG Nonlinear)
• 5.Answer + Sensitivity reports for the submission appendix

Solver vs Goal Seek — which does your assignment want?

Solver optimizes under constraints (assign, schedule, blend, maximize). Goal Seek answers one-variable “what-if” questions (“what sales hit the target?”) via Data → What-If Analysis → Goal Seek. If the brief mentions constraints, binary variables or maximization, it is Solver. If it asks “how many / what price to reach X”, it is Goal Seek.

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Solve it in 5 Solver clicks

1. 1Enable Solver (File → Options → Add-ins) and build cost + binary matrices.
2. 2Set objective to SUMPRODUCT total, To: Min, By Changing binary cells.
3. 3Add binary, row=1 and column=1 constraints; choose Simplex LP; Solve.