Provides a relatively brief introduction to conjugate duality in both finite- and infinite-dimensional problems. An emphasis is placed on the fundamental importance of the concepts of Lagrangian function, saddle-point, and saddle-value. General examples are drawn from nonlinear programming, approximation, stochastic programming, the calculus of variations, and optimal control.

The results presented in this book originate from the last decade research work of the author in the ?eld of duality theory in convex optimization. The reputation of duality in the optimization theory comes mainly from the major role that it plays in formulating necessary and suf?cient optimality conditions and, consequently, in generatingdifferent algorithmic approachesfor solving mathematical programming problems. The investigations made in this work prove the importance of the duality theory beyond these aspects and emphasize its strong connections with different topics in convex analysis, nonlinear analysis, functional analysis and in the theory of monotone operators. The ?rst part of the book brings to the attention of the reader the perturbation approach as a fundamental tool for developing the so-called conjugate duality t- ory. The classical Lagrange and Fenchel duality approaches are particular instances of this general concept. More than that, the generalized interior point regularity conditions stated in the past for the two mentioned situations turn out to be p- ticularizations of the ones given in this general setting. In our investigations, the perturbationapproachrepresentsthestartingpointforderivingnewdualityconcepts for several classes of convex optimization problems. Moreover, via this approach, generalized Moreau–Rockafellar formulae are provided and, in connection with them, a new class of regularity conditions, called closedness-type conditions, for both stable strong duality and strong duality is introduced. By stable strong duality we understand the situation in which strong duality still holds whenever perturbing the objective function of the primal problem with a linear continuous functional.

The theory of duality in problems of optimization is developed in a setting of finite and infinite dimensional spaces using convex analysis. Applications to convex and nonconvex problems. Expository account containing many new results. (Author).

This book presents fundamentals and comprehensive results regarding duality for scalar, vector and set-valued optimization problems in a general setting. One chapter is exclusively consecrated to the scalar and vector Wolfe and Mond-Weir duality schemes.

Convex optimization problems arise frequently in many different fields. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject, and shows in detail how such problems can be solved numerically with great efficiency. The book begins with the basic elements of convex sets and functions, and then describes various classes of convex optimization problems. Duality and approximation techniques are then covered, as are statistical estimation techniques. Various geometrical problems are then presented, and there is detailed discussion of unconstrained and constrained minimization problems, and interior-point methods. The focus of the book is on recognizing convex optimization problems and then finding the most appropriate technique for solving them. It contains many worked examples and homework exercises and will appeal to students, researchers and practitioners in fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, finance and economics.

An insightful, concise, and rigorous treatment of the basic theory of convex sets and functions in finite dimensions, and the analytical/geometrical foundations of convex optimization and duality theory. Convexity theory is first developed in a simple accessible manner, using easily visualized proofs. Then the focus shifts to a transparent geometrical line of analysis to develop the fundamental duality between descriptions of convex functions in terms of points, and in terms of hyperplanes. Finally, convexity theory and abstract duality are applied to problems of constrained optimization, Fenchel and conic duality, and game theory to develop the sharpest possible duality results within a highly visual geometric framework. This on-line version of the book, includes an extensive set of theoretical problems with detailed high-quality solutions, which significantly extend the range and value of the book. The book may be used as a text for a theoretical convex optimization course; the author has taught several variants of such a course at MIT and elsewhere over the last ten years. It may also be used as a supplementary source for nonlinear programming classes, and as a theoretical foundation for classes focused on convex optimization models (rather than theory). It is an excellent supplement to several of our books: Convex Optimization Algorithms (Athena Scientific, 2015), Nonlinear Programming (Athena Scientific, 2017), Network Optimization(Athena Scientific, 1998), Introduction to Linear Optimization (Athena Scientific, 1997), and Network Flows and Monotropic Optimization (Athena Scientific, 1998).

Dantzig's development of linear programming into one of the most applicable optimization techniques has spread interest in the algebra of linear inequalities, the geometry of polyhedra, the topology of convex sets, and the analysis of convex functions. It is the goal of this volume to provide a synopsis of these topics, and thereby the theoretical back ground for the arithmetic of convex optimization to be treated in a sub sequent volume. The exposition of each chapter is essentially independent, and attempts to reflect a specific style of mathematical reasoning. The emphasis lies on linear and convex duality theory, as initiated by Gale, Kuhn and Tucker, Fenchel, and v. Neumann, because it represents the theoretical development whose impact on modern optimi zation techniques has been the most pronounced. Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to two characteristic aspects of duality theory: conjugate functions or polarity on the one hand, and saddle points on the other. The Farkas lemma on linear inequalities and its generalizations, Motzkin's description of polyhedra, Minkowski's supporting plane theorem are indispensable elementary tools which are contained in chapters 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The treatment of extremal properties of polyhedra as well as of general convex sets is based on the far reaching work of Klee. Chapter 2 terminates with a description of Gale diagrams, a recently developed successful technique for exploring polyhedral structures.