Nonlinear optimization for matroid intersection and extensions
Abstract
We address optimization of nonlinear functions of the form , where is a nonlinear function, is a matrix, and feasible are in some large finite set of integer points in . One motivation is multi-objective discrete optimization, where trades off the linear functions given by the rows of . Another motivation is to extend known results about polynomial-time linear optimization over discrete structures to nonlinear optimization. We assume that the convex hull of is well-described by linear inequalities. For example, the set of characteristic vectors of common bases of a pair of matroids on a common ground set. When is well described, is convex (or even quasiconvex), and has a fixed number of rows and is unary encoded or with entries in a fixed set, we give an efficient deterministic algorithm for maximization. When is well described, is a norm, and binary-encoded is nonnegative, we give an efficient deterministic constant-approximation algorithm for maximization. When is well described, is ``ray concave'' and non-decreasing, and has a fixed number of rows and is unary encoded or with entries in a fixed set, we give an efficient deterministic constant-approximation algorithm for minimization. When is the set of characteristic vectors of common bases of a pair of vectorial matroids on a common ground set, is arbitrary, and has a fixed number of rows and is unary encoded, we give an efficient randomized algorithm for optimization.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0807.3907,
title = {Nonlinear optimization for matroid intersection and extensions},
author = {Yael Berstein and Jon Lee and Shmuel Onn and Robert Weismantel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0807.3907},
year = {2008}
}