Using solver to find a combination of numbers that equal a specific number.

Livin404

Well-known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Messages
774
Office Version
  1. 365
  2. 2019
Platform
  1. Windows
Hello, I'm do understand how to use Solver to get a specific number. I am wondering how can I make it so if there is no combination I can make it so I can get as close as possible without going over?

I add a simple file to my drop box.

I hope it is even possible.

closest sum 04 June 23.xlsx

Thank you,
 

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It is very hard.. There can be virtually infine possibilities. Even it is hard to achieve with solver. I am surprised how you achieved it.
 
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It is very hard.. There can be virtually infine possibilities. Even it is hard to achieve with solver. I am surprised how you achieved it.
Well I meant the closest I can get to it without exceeding. Thank you,
 
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This code can look for the exact target value. It is a heuristic code so, it tries everything until it achieves the target. Thus, it is very slow. I may take forever to try all combinations.
Finding the closest is nearly impossible as I told you before. the difference could be 0,01 or 1,00. It is virtually impossible to determine through all possibilities.

VBA Code:
Option Explicit
Sub test()
  Dim count() As Variant, results As Variant, permutLen As Long, numLen As Long
  Dim permutation As Variant, r As Variant, c As Long, numbers() As Variant
  Dim result() As Variant, target As Double, minimumValue As Double, i As Integer
  target = Range("G1").Value2
  permutLen = Cells(Rows.count, 1).End(xlUp).Row
  minimumValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Min(Range("A1:A" & permutLen))
  numbers = Range("A1:A" & permutLen)
  For i = 0 To Int(target / minimumValue)
    ReDim Preserve count(i)
    count(i) = i
  Next
  numLen = UBound(count) + 1
  permutation = numLen ^ permutLen
  ReDim result(1 To permutLen, 1 To 1)
  For r = 1 To permutation
    For c = 1 To permutLen
      result(c, 1) = count(Int((r - 1) / (permutation / (numLen ^ c))) Mod numLen)
    Next
    If mySumProduct(numbers, result) = target Then
      Range("B1").Resize(permutLen) = result
      Exit Sub
    End If
  Next
End Sub
Function mySumProduct(ByRef values() As Variant, ByRef quantity() As Variant) As Double
  Dim i As Integer
  For i = 1 To UBound(quantity)
    mySumProduct = mySumProduct + (values(i, 1) * quantity(i, 1))
  Next
End Function
 
Upvote 0
A possible solver setup may look like this. Then you also need to change the formula in cell G3 i.e,
Code:
to get the result equal to or less than G1.
 

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