Slack Variables: Definition

Interpretation of Slack Variables - Definition

	Definition of the First Slack Variable Let denote the first slack variable for the first functional constraint. Define Require that .
Use of the First Slack Variable With the above definition of the first slack variable , requiring that

is equivalent to requiring that

For any value of and , the box forces to have the value that satisfies its definition. If , then , and vice-versa.
The simplex method uses this box to replace the inequality constraint .