What type of mathematical problem was the Stigler Diet designed to solve?
Answer
A linear programming problem.
The mathematical basis for the Stigler Diet, proposed by George J. Stigler, was formally framed as a linear programming problem. This specific class of optimization deals with finding the best outcome (like minimizing cost) in a mathematical model whose requirements are represented by linear relationships. In this context, the inputs were food costs and nutrient levels, and the solution involved finding the combination of foods that satisfied the required nutritional minimums at the lowest possible expense, representing a standard application of operations research techniques to a biological constraint set.

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