Topic
Combinatorial optimization
About: Combinatorial optimization is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 12259 publications have been published within this topic receiving 527467 citations.
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TL;DR: There is a deep and useful connection between statistical mechanics and multivariate or combinatorial optimization (finding the minimum of a given function depending on many parameters), and a detailed analogy with annealing in solids provides a framework for optimization of very large and complex systems.
Abstract: There is a deep and useful connection between statistical mechanics (the behavior of systems with many degrees of freedom in thermal equilibrium at a finite temperature) and multivariate or combinatorial optimization (finding the minimum of a given function depending on many parameters). A detailed analogy with annealing in solids provides a framework for optimization of the properties of very large and complex systems. This connection to statistical mechanics exposes new information and provides an unfamiliar perspective on traditional optimization problems and methods.
41,772 citations
01 Feb 1996
TL;DR: It is shown how the ant system (AS) can be applied to other optimization problems like the asymmetric traveling salesman, the quadratic assignment and the job-shop scheduling, and the salient characteristics-global data structure revision, distributed communication and probabilistic transitions of the AS.
Abstract: An analogy with the way ant colonies function has suggested the definition of a new computational paradigm, which we call ant system (AS). We propose it as a viable new approach to stochastic combinatorial optimization. The main characteristics of this model are positive feedback, distributed computation, and the use of a constructive greedy heuristic. Positive feedback accounts for rapid discovery of good solutions, distributed computation avoids premature convergence, and the greedy heuristic helps find acceptable solutions in the early stages of the search process. We apply the proposed methodology to the classical traveling salesman problem (TSP), and report simulation results. We also discuss parameter selection and the early setups of the model, and compare it with tabu search and simulated annealing using TSP. To demonstrate the robustness of the approach, we show how the ant system (AS) can be applied to other optimization problems like the asymmetric traveling salesman, the quadratic assignment and the job-shop scheduling. Finally we discuss the salient characteristics-global data structure revision, distributed communication and probabilistic transitions of the AS.
11,224 citations
TL;DR: This paper has always been one of my favorite children, combining as it does elements of the duality of linear programming and combinatorial tools from graph theory, and it may be of some interest to tell the story of its origin this article.
Abstract: This paper has always been one of my favorite “children,” combining as it does elements of the duality of linear programming and combinatorial tools from graph theory. It may be of some interest to tell the story of its origin.
11,096 citations
TL;DR: This clearly written, mathematically rigorous text includes a novel algorithmic exposition of the simplex method and also discusses the Soviet ellipsoid algorithm for linear programming; efficient algorithms for network flow, matching, spanning trees, and matroids; the theory of NP-complete problems; approximation algorithms, local search heuristics for NPcomplete problems, more.
Abstract: This clearly written , mathematically rigorous text includes a novel algorithmic exposition of the simplex method and also discusses the Soviet ellipsoid algorithm for linear programming; efficient algorithms for network flow, matching, spanning trees, and matroids; the theory of NP-complete problems; approximation algorithms, local search heuristics for NPcomplete problems, more All chapters are supplemented by thoughtprovoking problems A useful work for graduate-level students with backgrounds in computer science, operations research, and electrical engineering Mathematicians wishing a self-contained introduction need look no further—American Mathematical Monthly 1982 ed
7,221 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1988TL;DR: This chapter discusses the Scope of Integer and Combinatorial Optimization, as well as applications of Special-Purpose Algorithms and Matching.
Abstract: FOUNDATIONS. The Scope of Integer and Combinatorial Optimization. Linear Programming. Graphs and Networks. Polyhedral Theory. Computational Complexity. Polynomial-Time Algorithms for Linear Programming. Integer Lattices. GENERAL INTEGER PROGRAMMING. The Theory of Valid Inequalities. Strong Valid Inequalities and Facets for Structured Integer Programs. Duality and Relaxation. General Algorithms. Special-Purpose Algorithms. Applications of Special- Purpose Algorithms. COMBINATORIAL OPTIMIZATION. Integral Polyhedra. Matching. Matroid and Submodular Function Optimization. References. Indexes.
6,287 citations