We quantify the set of known exponent pairs (k,ℓ)(k, \ell ) and develop a framework to compute the optimal exponent pair for an arbitrary objective function. Applying this methodology, we make progress on several open problems, including bounds of the Riemann zeta-function ζ(s)\zeta (s) in the critical strip, estimates of the moments of ζ(1/2+it)\zeta (1/2 + it) and the generalised Dirichlet divisor problem.