For every real number c≥1 and for all ε>0, there is a fitness function f:{0,1}n→R for which the optimal mutation rate for the (1+1) evolutionary algorithm on f, denoted pn, satisfies pn≈c/n in that ∣npn−c∣<ε. In other words, the set of all c≥1 for which the mutation rate c/n is optimal for the (1+1) EA is dense in the interval [1,∞). To show this, a fitness function is introduced which is called HillPathJump.
@article{arxiv.2602.23573,
title = {All Mutation Rates $c/n$ for the $(1+1)$ Evolutionary Algorithm},
author = {Andrew James Kelley},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.23573},
year = {2026}
}