ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Optimization problem

Okay kiddo, let me explain what an optimization problem is in a simple way! Imagine you have a big jar of candy and you want to eat as much candy as possible but you also want to make sure you don't get sick. You think to yourself, "I want to eat a lot of candy, but I don't want to eat too much and get an upset tummy".

An optimization problem is similar to this candy jar problem. It's when you want to find the best way to do something while also making sure you don't do too much or too little. This problem can come up in many situations like when you're trying to win a game, make money, or solve a puzzle.

Let's use another example, imagine you have five apples and you want to share them with three of your friends. You could give each of them one apple, but that would leave you with two apples. What if you want to make sure each person gets the same amount of apples and you don't waste any? In this case, you need to find the best way to divide the apples so everyone gets a fair share.

That's what an optimization problem is all about - figuring out the best way to do something while taking into account all the factors involved. It's like you're trying to find the sweet spot, where everything is just right. And just like with the candy jar, you want to make sure you don't go overboard and end up feeling bad.

So, an optimization problem is really just a fancy way of saying you're trying to find the best solution to a problem while making sure you don't go too far in any one direction. It's all about finding that perfect balance!