Questions tagged [global-optimization]

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2 answers
319 views

Any idea of solving an optimization problem with cubic constraints?

I have the following optimization problem with cubic constraints, which is hard to solve. Are there any ideas, or related references, of solving such a problem? $$ \begin{array}{ll} \underset {y, z} {\...
0 votes
1 answer
41 views

relations between non-negativity of multivariate polynomials and SOS over gradient ideal

We know there is a necessary condition for the non-negativity of multivariate polynomials in the paper "Sum of Squares Decompositions of Polynomials over their Gradient Ideals with Rational ...
3 votes
3 answers
455 views

Looking for a very particular kind of non-convex functions

I want some examples (hopefully parametric families!) of non-convex functions which satisfy the following properties simultaneously, It should be at least twice differentiable. It should have a ...
13 votes
3 answers
414 views

Maximal distance between $2d+1$ points on the $(d-1)$-sphere

If one arranges $2d$ points on the sphere $\mathbf S^{d-1}\subset\Bbb R^d$ at the vertices of the crosspolytope, then one can achieve a minimal spherical distance of $\pi/2$ between any two points, ...
4 votes
2 answers
630 views

Difference between Chebyshev first and second degree iterative methods

Consider linear equation $Au = f$. We want to solve it with iterative method (assuming $A$ is good). First order iterative method is: $$ u^{k+1} = u^k - \alpha_{k+1}(Au^k - f), $$ The second degree ...
1 vote
1 answer
81 views

optimization over moving domains

Let $A, B$ be Banach spaces, and for any $a\in A$, $B_a\in B$ is a measurable subset. Consider the following optimization problem: $$L(a)=\inf_{b\in B_a}\ell(b),$$ where $\ell(b)$ is a infinite-times ...
3 votes
1 answer
223 views

Min problem on integers

Let $n$ be any integer greater than $2^{10^6}$. Given any $s\le (\log_2 n)/1000$ integers $1=q_1\le q_2\le \cdots q_{s-1}\le q_s=n$. Prove that $$\min_\ell\left(\sum_{i=1}^\ell q_i\right)\left(\sum_{i=...
0 votes
0 answers
54 views

Relationship of optimal solutions between the total function and the sub function

This is an unconstrained convex optimization problem. Let $\mathcal{N}=\left\{1,\ldots,n\right\}$, $2\leq n<\infty$. Suppose there are many strongly convex functions $f_i(x)$, where $x\in\mathbb{R}^...
0 votes
0 answers
82 views

Show that $\max_{P_X : X\in (0,1) } \left| \frac{\mathbb{E} [ f'(X) ]}{ \mathbb{E} [ f(X) ] } \right|$ is maximized by at most two mass points

Let $f$ be some given well-behaved function. Consider the following optimization problem overall probability distribution on $[0,1]$ \begin{align} \max_{P_X : X\in [0,1] } \left| \frac{\mathbb{E} [ ...
1 vote
1 answer
97 views

Optimization on non-convex set

Let $\Omega$ be an open bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and $f\in L^2(\Omega)$ be a given function. Consider the optimization problem $$\mathrm{min} \int_\Omega u(x) f(x) \,dx\,,$$ where a minimum is ...
0 votes
0 answers
51 views

Optimization in complex vector space

I am trying to solve the following question $$ \max_{ \mathbf{w}\in\mathbb{C}^N } \ f(\gamma)$$ $$\textrm{s.t.} \ \gamma=a|\mathbf{h}^H\mathbf{w}|^2$$ $$\|\mathbf{w}\|^2\leq b,$$ $$|\mathbf{g}_{k}^H\...
3 votes
2 answers
212 views

Optimal Kelly criterion for process with N discrete outcomes

I am trying to come up with a generalisation of the Kelly formula for optimal fractional betting but and have hit a roadblock. The Kelly criterion is usually explained via a game that ends in 1 of 2 ...
1 vote
1 answer
58 views

Estimate of minimum of the Poisson integrals corresponding to a convergent Hausdorff sequence of smooth bounded domains from below

Let $\{\Omega_{j}\}_{j\in\mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of smooth bounded domains in $\mathbb{C}^{n}$ such that $\Omega_{j}$ converges to a smooth bounded domain $\Omega$ in the sense that the defining ...
1 vote
2 answers
117 views

How to solve the optimization problem $\max_{\mathbf{w}}\sum_i\text{sign}(\mathbf{w}^T \mathbf{x}_i)$?

I am looking for an algorithm to solve the following optimization problem $$\max_{\mathbf{w}}\sum_i\text{sign}(\mathbf{w}^T \mathbf{x}_i)$$ where $\mathbf{w}$ and each $\mathbf{x}_i\in\mathbb{R}^d$. ...
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Maximizing the minimum of piecewise linear functions in high dimensional space

I'd like to compute $\max_{x,t} t$ such that $\forall i$, $t < a_i + \|x - b_i\|_\infty$. where $a_i,\ldots, a_n \in \mathbb R$ and $b_1,\ldots,b_n \in [0,1]^{21}$ are fixed, $x \in [0,1]^{21}$, $...
1 vote
2 answers
596 views

Maximizing a sum of Gaussians

Let $\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n \in \mathbb{R}^d$ be $n$ given vectors. Define the function $$ \mathcal{K}(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{y}) := \alpha\exp\left(-\frac{\|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{y}\|^2}{2\sigma^...
0 votes
1 answer
152 views

Prove zero slope point is global maximum for constrained function with binomials. Without restriction, objective function is non-concave

How to prove the zero slope point is a global maximum in this non-concave program for a function with binomials? I need to find the (global) maximum of the following constrained problem: $$\max_{CAP} \...
8 votes
5 answers
2k views

Prove that this expression is greater than 1/2

Let $0<x < y < 1$ be given. Prove $$4x^{2}+4y^{2}-4xy-4y+1 + \frac{4}{\pi^2}\Big[ \sin^{2}(\pi x)+ \sin^{2}(\pi y) + \sin^{2}[\pi(y-x)] \Big] \geq \frac{1}{2}$$ I have been working on this ...
2 votes
1 answer
96 views

Maximizing a skew-symmetric 4D cross product

How do I find two orthonormal 4D vectors, $(x_0,x_1,x_2,x_3)$ and $(y_0,y_1,y_2,y_3)$, which maximize this function: $-19x_1y_0 - 33x_2y_0 + 11x_3y_0 + 19x_0y_1 - 21x_2y_1 - 33x_3y_1 + 33x_0y_2 + ...
4 votes
1 answer
527 views

Maximum entropy distribution with constrained quantiles

Suppose we have a continuous probability distribution with density function $f$ whose support is $[a,b]$ and we know that for some finite set of values $\{ v_i \}_{i=1}^n$ between $a$ and $b$ that the ...
2 votes
0 answers
90 views

Local behavior around critical points in high dimensions

I have asked this question on math.stackexchange.com but even though I gave a bounty, I was not able to receive any answers at all, so I'm posting it here again, hoping that the question is not too ...
16 votes
1 answer
478 views

Can solutions to Thomson's problem have pentagons?

Thomson's problem asks for the minimum-energy configuration for $N$ electrons on a sphere (refs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson_problem, https://sites.google.com/site/adilmmughal/...
37 votes
1 answer
2k views

Sofa in a snaky 3D corridor

What is the largest volume object that can pass though a $1 \times 1 \times L$ "snaky" corridor, where $L$ is large enough to be irrelvant, say $L > 6$.           ...
1 vote
0 answers
94 views

How to solve the following optimization problem?

Let $G=(V,E)$ be a connected network with $|V|=n$. Consider the following optimization problem I'm trying to know under which conditions the following minimization problem has solution : $${\sum _{i=1}...
3 votes
1 answer
171 views

Minimize total area bounded by $N$ lines in general position

Suppose we have $N$ lines in general position (any two lines, but no three lines, meet at a point) ($N\geq 3$). Let the smallest bounded region have area $1$. Determine the minimum (or possibly ...
18 votes
1 answer
630 views

Known configurations maximizing the volume of the convex hull of n points on the unit sphere

For $n\geq 4$, let $V_n$ be the maximum volume of the convex hull of $n$ points on the unit sphere (in $\mathbb{R}^3$, although information on higher dimensions is welcome as well). I'm sure the ...
10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Robust black box function minimization with extremely expensive cost function

There is an enormous amount of information about the common applied math problem of minimizing a function.. software packages, hundreds of books, research, etc. But I still have not found a good ...
7 votes
3 answers
884 views

Some questions about Invexity

Recently, I am looking into a non-convex optimization problem whose points satisfying KKT conditions can be obtained. Then the problem becomes how to decide whether the KKT conditions are sufficient ...
3 votes
1 answer
289 views

Trying to prove an inequality

I am working on a problem and for that purpose, I need to prove the following inequality. Let $t\in [0,1]$ and set $$ z_0=1-4t(1-t)\sin^2(4x)\\ z_1=1-4z_0(1-z_0)\sin^2(3x) $$ I need to show that for ...
1 vote
1 answer
216 views

What kind of optimization problem is this?

I come across an optimization problem of the following form. $$\max {\frac{1+v}{1-u}} \qquad \text{s.t.} \qquad ux^2+vy^2-xy \ge 0, \quad \forall x,y\in\mathbb{R}$$ I do not know much of optimization. ...
2 votes
0 answers
43 views

Convergent algorithm for minimizing nonconvex smooth function

Let $\Phi$ be the Gaussian CDF and for $\gamma\ge 0$ and $h>0$, define a loss function $\ell_h:\{\pm 1\} \times \mathbb R$ by $$ \ell_{\gamma,h}(y,y') := \phi_{\gamma,h}(yy') := \Phi((yy'-\gamma)/h)...
1 vote
0 answers
45 views

Problems with known optimal solution [closed]

I am looking for some problems in which we know the value of optimal solution and should find just a vector of variables. For example in N-Queens problem we know the value of optimal solution (that is ...
5 votes
1 answer
218 views

Minimizing the largest eigenvalue of matrix product

Let $A\in\mathbb{C}^{m\times n}$, $B\in\mathbb{C}^{n\times k}$, $C\in\mathbb{C}^{k\times m}$ be given complex matrices. The objective of the optimization problem is \begin{equation} \mathop {\arg \min ...
2 votes
1 answer
68 views

Optimize a function with not-full knowledge of gradient

I want to optimize the following function: $$ argmin_{x} f(x) = g(x) + h(x) $$ , where I can get $\nabla_xg(x)$, but cannot calculate $\nabla_xh(x)$. The derivative-free method, such as the Hill ...
0 votes
0 answers
110 views

Minimax problem : uniqueness of a solution

Let $n\geq2$. Is it true that the minimax problem: $$ \min_{p\in\mathcal{P}}\max_{H\in\mathcal H}p^tH\bar{p}, $$ where $\mathcal H\subset\mathcal{M}(n)$ is a strictly convex bounded subset of ...
0 votes
0 answers
195 views

Convergence of ODE solutions almost everywhere to a stable equilibrium point

Theorem: Suppose ${\bf g} :\mathbb{R}^n \mapsto \mathbb{R}^n$ is continuously differentiable, there exists a set $\mathcal{A} \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ such that $\bf g$ is uniformly Lipschitz on $\...
5 votes
2 answers
207 views

Integrals can sometimes be computed through their saddle points. Are there examples of converse, when saddle points are found via integrals?

Under some reasonable assumptions integrals with large exponents can often be computed via saddle point approximations, e.g. $$\int e^{-\lambda f(x)}\approx e^{-\lambda f(x_0)},\qquad \lambda\to\infty$...
1 vote
1 answer
189 views

Proof of extended version of non-random "almost supermartingale"

In this question, a non-random version of "almost supermartingale" theorem is proved. Here, I would like to extend/apply the non-random version to the slightly different situation. I wonder ...
3 votes
0 answers
503 views

Proving an optimization problem from continuous input to binary is optimal

Suppose we have a function $f(x,y,z)$ where the inputs are uniform from 0 to 1. The output is either $+1$ or $-1$. And there is a partial symmetry $f(x,y,z) = f(z,y,x)$. Tell me what the minimum of ...
1 vote
1 answer
252 views

Can we invoke "almost supermartingale" Theorem for deterministic sequences?

Perhaps stupid question. Question: Can "almost supermartingale" theorem be equally applicable to prove the convergence of some algorithms solving non-random optimization problems? Attempt ...
3 votes
0 answers
87 views

What is the name for this type of optimization problem?

As we all know, a classic optimization problem can be represented in the following way: Given a function $f: A \to \mathbb{R}$, find an element $x_0 \in A$ such that $f(x_0) \le f(x)$ for all $x \in ...
0 votes
1 answer
112 views

Transformation of an unconstrained binary quadratic optimization problem into a constrained binary linear programming problem

I know that a constrained linear optimization problem can be transformed into an unconstrained binary quadratic optimization problem (UBQP). Does anyone know if the inverse result is solved in the ...
0 votes
0 answers
92 views

Optimization problem where the objective function returns a function instead of a real number

As we all know, a classic optimization problem can be represented in the following way: Given: a function $f: A \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ from some set $A$ to the real numbers Sought: an element $x_0 ∈ ...
2 votes
0 answers
47 views

Why not use global optimization algorithms like PSO to solve decentralized control problems?

I do not see many works that use global optimization algorithms to solve decentralized control problems. Here the decentralized control problem means some entries of the feedback matrix are ...
2 votes
2 answers
460 views

Limits of argmin ratios and sums

In my research on convergence properties of certain Bayesian methods I have encountered $\mathop{\mathrm{arg\,min}}$ limits of the forms \begin{equation} \lim_{n\to\infty} \mathop{\mathrm{arg\,min}}_{\...
1 vote
0 answers
53 views

Nested, successive minimization solved by asympotic minimization?

I am curious about the general relation between nested, successive minimization (M1) and asymptotic minimization (M2) as defined in the following. What one wants is to implicitly minimize a sequence ...
3 votes
0 answers
257 views

Continuum of Lagrange multipliers, duality gap, and minimax theorem

Suppose I have a linear optimization problem involving random variables on some (infinite) probability space $\Omega$. For example, need to maximize expectation $E[Q]$ of random variable $Q$ subject ...
0 votes
1 answer
191 views

How do you call a linear programming problem when the solution should be "constrained" to a norm?

(apologies for the n00b question) Let's say we have a vector of length $n$, with to-be-determined values: $a_1, a_2, ...,a_n$. And we have information that partial sums of these elements are equal to ...
1 vote
0 answers
151 views

Optimization problem on trace of complex matrix product

Given a complex rectangular matrix $A$ $(k \times n)$, I am interested in solving the following optimization problem over $(k\times n)$ complex matrices $x$: $$ \mathrm{arg}\max_X \,\mathrm{trace}(X^...
4 votes
1 answer
89 views

Do Pareto critical points of a multicriteria optimization problem form an attractor of the dynamical system induced by a descent algorithm?

Let $d\in\mathbb N$, $k\in\mathbb N$ and $f:\mathbb R^d\to\mathbb R^k$ be differentiable. Say that $v\in\mathbb R^d$ is a descent direction at $x\in\mathbb R^d$ if ${\rm D}f(x)v<0$ (component-wise) ...

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