Starting with the fundamentals of classical smooth optimization and building on established convex programming techniques, this research monograph presents a foundation and methodology for modern nonconvex nondifferentiable optimization. It provides readers with theory, methods, and applications of nonconvex and nondifferentiable optimization in statistical estimation, operations research, machine learning, and decision making. A comprehensive and rigorous treatment of this emergent mathematical topic is urgently needed in today’s complex world of big data and machine learning. This book takes a thorough approach to the subject and includes examples and exercises to enrich the main themes, making it suitable for classroom instruction. Modern Nonconvex Nondifferentiable Optimization is intended for applied and computational mathematicians, optimizers, operations researchers, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, economists, and machine learners. It could be used in advanced courses on optimization/operations research and nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization.

"This monograph serves present and future needs where nonconvexity and nondifferentiability are inevitably present in the faithful modeling of real-world applications of optimization"--

This book presents a new approach to global non-convex constrained optimization. Problem dimensionality is reduced via space-filling curves. To economize the search, constraint is accounted separately (penalties are not employed). The multicriteria case is also considered. All techniques are generalized for (non-redundant) execution on multiprocessor systems. Audience: Researchers and students working in optimization, applied mathematics, and computer science.

Of recent coinage, the term "nondifferentiable optimization" (NDO) covers a spectrum of problems related to finding extremal values of nondifferentiable functions. Problems of minimizing nonsmooth functions arise in engineering applications as well as in mathematics proper. The Chebyshev approximation problem is an ample illustration of this. Without loss of generality, we shall consider only minimization problems. Among nonsmooth minimization problems, minimax problems and convex problems have been studied extensively ([31], [36], [57], [110], [120]). Interest in NDO has been constantly growing in recent years (monographs: [30], [81], [127] and articles and papers: [14], [20], [87]-[89], [98], [130], [135], [140]-[142], [152], [153], [160], all dealing with various aspects of non smooth optimization). For solving an arbitrary minimization problem, it is neces sary to: 1. Study properties of the objective function, in particular, its differentiability and directional differentiability. 2. Establish necessary (and, if possible, sufficient) condi tions for a global or local minimum. 3. Find the direction of descent (steepest or, simply, feasible--in appropriate sense). 4. Construct methods of successive approximation. In this book, the minimization problems for nonsmooth func tions of a finite number of variables are considered. Of fun damental importance are necessary conditions for an extremum (for example, [24], [45], [57], [73], [74], [103], [159], [163], [167], [168].

This volume contains the edited texts of the lect. nres presented at the International School of Mathematics devoted to Nonsmonth Optimization, held from . June 20 to July I, 1988. The site for the meeting was the "Ettore ~Iajorana" Centre for Sci entific Culture in Erice, Sicily. In the tradition of these meetings the main purpose was to give the state-of-the-art of an important and growing field of mathematics, and to stimulate interactions between finite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional op timization. The School was attended by approximately 80 people from 23 countries; in particular it was possible to have some distinguished lecturers from the SO\·iet Union, whose research institutions are here gratt-fnlly acknowledged. Besides the lectures, several seminars were delivered; a special s·~ssion was devoted to numerical computing aspects. The result was a broad exposure. gi ·. ring a deep knowledge of the present research tendencies in the field. We wish to express our appreciation to all the participants. Special mention 5hould be made of the Ettorc ;. . Iajorana Centre in Erice, which helped provide a stimulating and rewarding experience, and of its staff which was fundamental for the success of the meeting. j\, loreover, WP want to extend uur deep appreci