Optimization is the act of obtaining the ''best'' result under given circumstances. In design, construction, and maintenance of any engineering system, engineers must make technological and managerial decisions to minimize either the effort or cost required or to maximize benefits. There is no single method available for solving all optimization problems efficiently. Several optimization methods have been developed for different types of problems. The optimum seeking methods are mathematical programming techniques (specifically, nonlinear programming techniques). Nonlinear Optimization: Models, Applications, and Applications present the concepts in several ways to foster understanding. Geometric interpretation: is used to re-enforce the concepts and to foster understanding of the mathematical procedures. The student sees that many problems can be analyzed, and approximate solutions found before analytical solutions techniques are applied. Numerical approximations: early on, the student is exposed to numerical techniques. These numerical procedures are algorithmic and iterative. Worksheets are provided in EXCEL, MATLAB, and Maple to facilitate the procedure. Algorithms: All algorithms are provided with a step-by-step format. Examples follow the summary to illustrate its use and application.