The objective of this paper is to look into the possibility of the detailed and practical optimum design of rt:inforced concrete beam using methods oi discrete mathematical programming. In this discrete optimum formulation, the design variables are the overall depth, width and effective depth of members, and area of longitudinal reinforcement. In addition, the details such as the amount of web reinforcement and cutoff points of longitudinal reinforcement are also considered as variables. Total cost has been used as the objective function. The constraints include the code requirments such as flexural strength, shear strength, ductility, serviceability, concrete cover. spacing, web reinforcement, and development length and cutoff points of longitudinal renforcement. An optimization algorithm is presented for effective optimum design of R.C. beam with discrete de sign variables. First, the continuous variable optimization can be achieved by Feasible Direction Method. Using the results obtained from the continuous variable optimization, a branch and bound method is used to obtained the discrete design values. The proposed algorithm is applied to test problem for reliability, and the results are compared with those of graphical method and rounded-up method. And a simply supported R.C. beam and a two-span continuous R.C. beam are presented as numerical examples for effectiveness and applicability. It is considered that the presented algorithm can be effectively applied to the discrete optimum design of R.C. beams.