Difference between revisions of "Integer Linear Programming"

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Integer Linear Programming (ILP) is a [[category::method]] for:
 
Integer Linear Programming (ILP) is a [[category::method]] for:
  
* optimizing a linear objective function:  
+
* Optimizing a linear objective function:  
 
:: maximize <math> \sum_{i=1}^m{c_i x_i} </math>  
 
:: maximize <math> \sum_{i=1}^m{c_i x_i} </math>  
 
: where <math>c_i</math> is known and <math>x_i</math> is unknown variable
 
: where <math>c_i</math> is known and <math>x_i</math> is unknown variable
  
* subject to linear equality or inequality constraints:
+
* Subject to linear equality or inequality constraints:
 
:: <math> \sum_{i=1}^m{a_i x_i} \le b_i</math>  
 
:: <math> \sum_{i=1}^m{a_i x_i} \le b_i</math>  
 
: where <math>a_i</math> and <math>b_i</math> are known
 
: where <math>a_i</math> and <math>b_i</math> are known
  
* and where <math>x_i</math> can only take integer values  
+
* Where <math>x_i</math> can only take integer values  
  
 
In other words, it is a method to find the optimal solution (i.e. the best assignment of unknown variables such as <math>x_i</math>'s) that maximizes the objective function while meeting a list of requirements expressed as linear equality or inequality relationships.
 
In other words, it is a method to find the optimal solution (i.e. the best assignment of unknown variables such as <math>x_i</math>'s) that maximizes the objective function while meeting a list of requirements expressed as linear equality or inequality relationships.
  
The strength of ILP is in its joint inference. Instead of making local, isolated decisions on each <math>x_i</math>, it makes joint decisions on all <math>x_i</math>'s guided by the global constraints and the objective function given.  
+
The strength of ILP is in its joint inference. Instead of making local, isolated assignment of each <math>x_i</math>, it makes joint assignments of all <math>x_i</math>'s at the same time; guided by global constraints and the objective function given.  
  
 
ILP is known to be NP-hard. However, there are many off-the-shelf solvers, both commercial and non commercial, that are available. One such solver is [http://scip.zib.de/ SCIP], which is currently the fastest non commercial mixed integer programming solver.
 
ILP is known to be NP-hard. However, there are many off-the-shelf solvers, both commercial and non commercial, that are available. One such solver is [http://scip.zib.de/ SCIP], which is currently the fastest non commercial mixed integer programming solver.

Revision as of 02:54, 28 September 2011

Summary

Integer Linear Programming (ILP) is a method for:

  • Optimizing a linear objective function:
maximize
where is known and is unknown variable
  • Subject to linear equality or inequality constraints:
where and are known
  • Where can only take integer values

In other words, it is a method to find the optimal solution (i.e. the best assignment of unknown variables such as 's) that maximizes the objective function while meeting a list of requirements expressed as linear equality or inequality relationships.

The strength of ILP is in its joint inference. Instead of making local, isolated assignment of each , it makes joint assignments of all 's at the same time; guided by global constraints and the objective function given.

ILP is known to be NP-hard. However, there are many off-the-shelf solvers, both commercial and non commercial, that are available. One such solver is SCIP, which is currently the fastest non commercial mixed integer programming solver.

Procedure

Input:

  • The linear objective function
  • The linear constraints

Output:

  • The assignment of unknown variables that optimizes the objective function and is consistent with the constraints

References / Links

  • Leo Brieman. Bagging Predictors. Machine Learning, 24, 123–140 (1996). - [1]
  • Wikipedia article on Bagging - [2]

Relevant Papers