On representations of the feasible set in convex optimization

We consider the convex optimization problem \({\min_{\mathbf{x}} \{f(\mathbf{x}): g_j(\mathbf{x})\leq 0, j=1,\ldots,m\}}\) where f is convex, the feasible set \({\mathbf{K}}\) is convex and Slater’s condition holds, but the functions g _j ’s are not necessarily convex. We show that for any representation of \({\mathbf{K}}\) that satisfies a mild nondegeneracy assumption, every minimizer is a Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) point and conversely every KKT point is a minimizer. That is, the KKT optimality conditions are necessary and sufficient as in convex programming where one assumes that the g _j ’s are convex. So in convex optimization, and as far as one is concerned with KKT points, what really matters is the geometry of \({\mathbf{K}}\) and not so much its representation.