If you're asking waht I think you're asking, then what you're then looking for is called 'numerical analysis'. Specifically, the grandparent was describing this [1]. Here is an OCW link for a good primer in to various introductory numerical analysis processes for Engineering [2].
This is also why Google is paying millions of dollars for a quantum computer. Being able to solve complex optimization problems efficiently almost partially translates to access to higher intelligence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_optimization
The hierarchy of topics in this area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mathematical_optimizat...
This is also why Google is paying millions of dollars for a quantum computer. Being able to solve complex optimization problems efficiently almost partially translates to access to higher intelligence.
http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2013/05/launching-quantum...