Choosing numbers from a list

[Ron Matthews]

I have the following list of numbers,from which I have to choose numbers which add up to 6649.35
I have tried to use Solver, but it seems not to be able to find an answer. I suspect I am doing somerthing wrong in Solver and am anxious to see if someone at Mr.Excel can assist please?

[TABLE="width: 148"]
<colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD="align: right"]30.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]185.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4,494.61[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5,418.54[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]30.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]30.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]30.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]10,756.61[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4,254.16[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]26.81[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]180.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]83.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1,642.35[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]137.64[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]282.66[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]489.89[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]790.72[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]934.06[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1,344.33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]194.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]83.00


[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[aaronbens]

You can do this in the solver. Assuming the data you have above is in column A (A1:A29). Leave Column (B1:B29) open to be your variables in Solver. Column C is the product of Column A and Column B (example C1=A1*B1 down to C29 = A29*B29). C30 = sum of C1:C29.

In solver you would set:
Set Objective = C30
To Value of: 6649.35
By Changing Variable Cells: B1:B29
Constraint B1:B29 = Binary

Use the solver method of Simplex LP and the solve. The lines in column B that have a 1 are the values that add up to your total.

 

[Ron Matthews]

Many thanks, however, I would like some further help and assistance.

I tried out the suggested solution but my Excel for Mac 2011 version could not find a solution - it continued to time out.

Is this normal? Is there any way we can overcome this problem?

Main concern is I have done something wrong which is stopping Solver from completing a solution.

 

[aaronbens]

Make sure you are using the Simplex LP method, my solver will time out If I use the nonlinear method

 

[Ron Matthews]

Yes, can confirm I used this method.

I just get a time out and no solution, irrespective of either method used. I am interested to know if you got a solution using the simple method. If you did, it suggests I am doing something wrong?.