[bigger_cheese]

Data derived from non linear inputs.

That is to say problems that can't be expressed by linear functions.

I.e. Y= mx + B is a linear function.

Y= ax^2 + bx + C is a polynomial (non linear) function.

Linear Programming (LP) involves solving a series of linear equations (something like Excel's Solver can do this).

When you are dealing with non linear functions you need to use a method such as Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP).