English

Quadratic Optimization with Switching Variables: The Convex Hull for $n = 2$

Optimization and Control 2020-02-13 v1

Abstract

We consider quadratic optimization in variables (x,y)(x,y) where 0xy0\le x\le y, and y{0,1}ny\in\{0,1\}^n. Such binary yy are commonly refered to as "indicator" or "switching" variables and occur commonly in applications. One approach to such problems is based on representing or approximating the convex hull of the set {(x,xxT,yyT):0xy{0,1}n}\{ (x,xx^T, yy^T) : 0\le x\le y\in\{0,1\}^n\}. A representation for the case n=1n=1 is known and has been widely used. We give an exact representation for the case n=2n=2 by starting with a disjunctive representation for the convex hull and then eliminating auxilliary variables and constraints that do not change the projection onto the original variables. An alternative derivation for this representation leads to an appealing conjecture for a simplified representation of the convex hull for n=2n=2 when the product term y1y2y_1y_2 is ignored.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2002.04681,
  title  = {Quadratic Optimization with Switching Variables: The Convex Hull for $n = 2$},
  author = {Samuel Burer and Kurt Anstreicher},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2002.04681},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

Department of Business Analytics, University of Iowa

R2 v1 2026-06-23T13:38:54.257Z