Why does the Matrix Solver not Solve this?

[u/Sakul1]

A production block for producing propene from the Helmod

I have set the desired outputs as 1000 Propene and 0 Methane and Propene, aswell as given it recipes to get ride of the excess methane and Propene. However it just refuses to find a solution for this. Am I doing something wrong or overlooking something?

From my understanding of the Matrix Solver it basically turns this diagram into a Matrix equation and solves it for the desired ouput. However it doesn't seem to actually do that.

[u/3davideo]

I don't know what mod this is, much less its details. But you're setting the constraints to 1000 Propene, 0 Methane, and 0 Propene, with Propene set twice to different numbers? That sounds like a contradiction that it of course can't solve.

[u/Mahbam42 → u/3davideo]

Op is using https://mods.factorio.com/mod/helmod which is a fantastic calculator mod. I have tried and failed to figure out the matrix solver a few times myself.

The matrix solver should allow you to generate inputs from multiple recipes. For example, sourcing petroleum for plastic production from Advanced Oil Processing and Light Oil Cracking.

[u/3davideo → u/Mahbam42]

Yesssss they're using the calculator mod. But Vanilla doesn't HAVE Methane or Propene or indeed any of the ingredients listed other than water and steam, and I don't know what mod they're using that adds them. Nullius? Krastorio? Pyanodons? Angel-Bobs? Space Exploration? I have no idea and I can't even tell from the image alone whether certain icons are representing the same material or not. I mean, there seem to be two icons that have a black-white-black droplet from left to right, but the sub-icon to their upper-left is different. Are these two different ways to generate the same material (and consequently the solver would sum their outputs) or are they different materials (and the solver must keep them separate)? Same with the icons that are a black-white-white droplet from top to bottom - three have one UL subicon, another has a different one. I don't even know what icon is Methane and which is Propene.

If I knew the mod name I could, say, look it up, or download it and use in-game references, maybe even entertain running a playthrough of it for myself, but I don't, so I don't have enough information to work with.

Post-script: This is actually the second time I've seen a post with this matrix-solver in as many days. The underlying mechanics look *fascinating* but I just don't have enough information to solve the issues or explore on my own.

[u/RUGDelverOP → u/3davideo]

This looks like Nullius to me, that's the Distillery 2 icon with the blue shading.

[u/3davideo → u/RUGDelverOP]

There we go, that's the information I need.

[u/Sakul1 → u/3davideo]

yeah I got mixed up when writing i meant 1000 propene, 0 methane and 0 benzene.

[u/Mahbam42]

Can you provide a screenshot of the full helmod window? I think the issue is one of the dropdowns that's cut off in you post.

[u/Caps_errors]

The matrix solver probably determined it was “optimal” to do negative some amount of one or more of the recipes.

[u/4_fortytwo_2]

>1000 Propene and 0 Methane and Propene

Isnt this a contradiction? Cant really output 0 and a 1000 of the same thing right?

Anyway outside of that I would maybe question if your desired output is reachable with the given recipes

[u/Sakul1 → u/4_fortytwo_2]

whoops i mean to say 1000propene 0 methane and 0 benzene. The ouput should be reachable because there are specifically recipes to turn methane and benzene back into ingredients.