What foundational methodology did Stigler’s 1975 work establish for automated planning tools?
Answer
Finding an optimal solution within a bounded set of variables
Stigler’s work, while not software, established the mathematical backbone for defining constraints and optimization targets, which became foundational to all subsequent automated planning systems in this domain. The methodology involved setting clear nutritional boundaries (the constraints that must be met) and then mathematically searching the defined parameter space—the bounded set of variables represented by available foods and their nutrient profiles—to locate the single best outcome according to the stated goal, which in his case was cost minimization. This constrained optimization approach remains fundamental to solving many modern planning and recommendation problems.

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