<p>Is Operations Research considered an "easy" major? I know it's related to industrial engineering, which some consider the easiest engineering discipline. However, it seems to involve high level math.</p>
<p>In Amy's (aibarr) defense, IE is truly the easiest engineering discipline. Never heard of operations research but if it is IE, then it can't help but be easy.</p>
<p>within IE, OR is usually the most difficult field, i am an IE. i agree that it is probably the easiest engineering, but do not underestimate any engineering, it is still no cakewalk</p>
<p>But what is operations research? Educate us poorly-informed souls..</p>
<p>a lot of optimization, linear programming, stochastic modeling. </p>
<p>fit mathematical models to real world problems. </p>
<p>one project i did recently was waste management optimization. </p>
<p>figuring out the best way to route trucks, where to send trash to what facilities, minimizing cost. </p>
<p>etc</p>
<p>It almost sounds like flight trajectories, except on the ground!</p>
<p>Do IEs take all the way up to DFQ?</p>
<p>DFQ = diffeq? yes they take dfq, lin algebra.</p>
<p>I'm getting my PhD in OR right now. I've had the masters for over 15 years. OR focuses on optimization problems. This can be making things more efficient, lest costly, or less risky. </p>
<p>It uses techniques in linear programming, nonlinear programming, applied statistics, modeling and simulation, decision theory, dynamic programming, game theory, and forecasting. There are interesting modern excursions into complex adaptive systems, agent-based models, and Bayesian techniques. </p>
<p>Differential equations are certainly part of the mix. </p>
<p>Do NOT attempt OR if you have a math anxiety. It's all math, all the time.</p>