Strong duality for robust minimax fractional programming problems

We develop a duality theory for minimax fractional programming problems in the face of data uncertainty both in the objective and constraints. Following the framework of robust optimization, we establish strong duality between the robust counterpart of an uncertain minimax convex–concave fractional program, termed as robust minimax fractional program, and the optimistic counterpart of its uncertain conventional dual program, called optimistic dual. In the case of a robust minimax linear fractional program with scenario uncertainty in the numerator of the objective function, we show that the optimistic dual is a simple linear program when the constraint uncertainty is expressed as bounded intervals. We also show that the dual can be reformulated as a second-order cone programming problem when the constraint uncertainty is given by ellipsoids. In these cases, the optimistic dual problems are computationally tractable and their solutions can be validated in polynomial time. We further show that, for robust minimax linear fractional programs with interval uncertainty, the conventional dual of its robust counterpart and the optimistic dual are equivalent.     

Robust Duality for Fractional Programming Problems with Constraint-Wise Data Uncertainty

In this paper, we examine duality for fractional programming problems in the face of data uncertainty within the framework of robust optimization. We establish strong duality between the robust counterpart of an uncertain convex–concave fractional program and the optimistic counterpart of its conventional Wolfe dual program with uncertain parameters. For linear fractional programming problems with constraint-wise interval uncertainty, we show that the dual of the robust counterpart is the optimistic counterpart in the sense that they are equivalent. Our results show that a worst-case solution of an uncertain fractional program (i.e., a solution of its robust counterpart) can be obtained by solving a single deterministic dual program. In the case of a linear fractional programming problem with interval uncertainty, such solutions can be found by solving a simple linear program.     

Duality in disjunctive linear fractional programming

In this note a dual problem is formulated for a given class of disjunctive linear fractional programming problems. This result generalizes to fractional programming the duality theorem of disjunctive linear programming originated by Balas. Two examples are given to illustrate the result.     

Duality in generalized linear fractional programming

We consider a generalization of a linear fractional program where the maximum of finitely many linear ratios is to be minimized subject to linear constraints. For this Min-Max problem, a dual in the form of a Max-Min problem is introduced and duality relations are established.     

On robust duality for fractional programming with uncertainty data

In this paper, we present a duality theory for fractional programming problems in the face of data uncertainty via robust optimization. By employing conjugate analysis, we establish robust strong duality for an uncertain fractional programming problem and its uncertain Wolfe dual programming problem by showing strong duality between the deterministic counterparts: robust counterpart of the primal model and the optimistic counterpart of its dual problem. We show that our results encompass as special cases some programming problems considered in the recent literature. Moreover, we also show that robust strong duality always holds for linear fractional programming problems under scenario data uncertainty or constraint-wise interval uncertainty, and that the optimistic counterpart of the dual is tractable computationally.     

Posynomial geometric programming as a special case of semi-infinite linear programming

This paper develops a wholly linear formulation of the posynomial geometric programming problem. It is shown that the primal geometric programming problem is equivalent to a semi-infinite linear program, and the dual problem is equivalent to a generalized linear program. Furthermore, the duality results that are available for the traditionally defined primal-dual pair are readily obtained from the duality theory for semi-infinite linear programs. It is also shown that two efficient algorithms (one primal based and the other dual based) for geometric programming actually operate on the semi-infinite linear program and its dual.     

Duality in generalized fractional programming via Farkas' lemma

For fractional programs involving several ratios in the objective function, a dual is introduced with the help of Farkas' lemma. Often the dual is again a generalized fractional program. Duality relations are established under weak assumptions. This is done in both the linear case and the nonlinear case. We show that duality can be obtained for these nonconvex programs using only a basic result on linear (convex) inequalities.     

Stable zero duality gaps in convex programming: Complete dual characterisations with applications to semidefinite programs

The zero duality gap that underpins the duality theory is one of the central ingredients in optimisation. In convex programming, it means that the optimal values of a given convex program and its associated dual program are equal. It allows, in particular, the development of efficient numerical schemes. However, the zero duality gap property does not always hold even for finite-dimensional problems and it frequently fails for problems with non-polyhedral constraints such as the ones in semidefinite programming problems. Over the years, various criteria have been developed ensuring zero duality gaps for convex programming problems. In the present work, we take a broader view of the zero duality gap property by allowing it to hold for each choice of linear perturbation of the objective function of the given problem. Globalising the property in this way permits us to obtain complete geometric dual characterisations of a stable zero duality gap in terms of epigraphs and conjugate functions. For convex semidefinite programs, we establish necessary and sufficient dual conditions for stable zero duality gaps, as well as for a universal zero duality gap in the sense that the zero duality gap property holds for each choice of constraint right-hand side and convex objective function. Zero duality gap results for second-order cone programming problems are also given. Our approach makes use of elegant conjugate analysis and Fenchel's duality.     

Conjugate duality in generalized fractional programming

The concepts of conjugate duality are used to establish dual programs for a class of generalized nonlinear fractional programs. It is now known that, under certain restrictions, a symmetric duality exists for generalized linear fractional programs. In this paper, we establish this symmetric duality for the nonlinear case.     

Convex analysis treated by linear programming

The theme of this paper is the application of linear analysis to simplify and extend convex analysis. The central problem treated is the standard convex program — minimize a convex function subject to inequality constraints on other convex functions. The present approach uses the support planes of the constraint region to transform the convex program into an equivalent linear program. Then the duality theory of infinite linear programming shows how to construct a new dual program of bilinear type. When this dual program is transformed back into the convex function formulation it concerns the minimax of an unconstrained Lagrange function. This result is somewhat similar to the Kuhn—Tucker theorem. However, no constraint qualifications are needed and yet perfect duality maintains between the primal and dual programs.Work prepared under Research Grant DA-AROD-31-124-71-G17, Army Research Office (Durham).     

Duality in disjunctive programming via vector optimization

In this paper, we develop a new duality theory for families of linear programs with an emphasis on disjunctive linear optimization by proposing a vector optimization problem as dual problem. We establish that the well-known relations between primal and dual problems hold in this context. We show that our method generalizes the duality results of Borwein on families of linear programs, of Balas on disjunctive programs, and of Patkar and Stancu-Minasian on disjunctive linear fractional programs. Moreover, we can derive some duality results for integer and for fractional programs where the denominator is not assumed (as usual) to be greater than zero for each feasible point.     

Duality for Algebraic Linear Programming

A duality theory for algebraic linear (integer) programming (ALP) is developed which is of the same importance for linear (integer) programming with linear algebraic objectives as linear programming duality is for classical LP. In particular, optimality criteria for primal, primal-dual, and dual methods are given which generalize feasibility and complementarity criteria of classical LP. Strong duality results are given for special combinatorial problems. Further, the validity and finiteness of a primal simplex method based on a feasibility criterion are proved in the case of nondiscrete variables. In this case a strong duality result is shown.     

Fractional multi-commodity flow problem: Duality and optimality conditions

This paper deals with multi-commodity flow problem with fractional objective function. The optimality conditions and the duality concepts of this problem are given. For this aim, the fractional linear programming formulation of this problem is considered and the weak duality, the strong direct duality and the weak complementary slackness theorems are proved applying the traditional duality theory of linear programming problems which is different from same results in Chadha and Chadha (2007) [1]. In addition, a strong (strict) complementary slackness theorem is derived which is firstly presented based on the best of our knowledge. These theorems are transformed in order to find the new reduced costs for fractional multi-commodity flow problem. These parameters can be used to construct some algorithms for considered multi-commodity flow problem in a direct manner. Throughout the paper, the boundedness of the primal feasible set is reduced to a weaker assumption about solvability of primal problem which is another contribution of this paper. Finally, a real world application of the fractional multi-commodity flow problem is presented.     

Duality in nonlinear fractional programming

Summary The purpose of the present paper is to introduce, on the lines similar to that ofWolfe [1961], a dual program to a nonlinear fractional program in which the objective function, being the ratio of a convex function to a strictly positive linear function, is a special type of pseudo-convex function and the constraint set is a convex set constrained by convex functions in the form of inequalities. The main results proved are, (i) Weak duality theorem, (ii)Wolfe's (Direct) duality theorem and (iii)Mangasarian's Strict Converse duality theorem.Huard's [1963] andHanson's [1961] converse duality theorems for the present problem have just been stated because they can be obtained as a special case ofMangasarian's theorem [1969, p. 157]. The other important discussion included is to show that the dual program introduced in the present paper can also be obtained throughDinkelbach's Parametric Replacement [1967] of a nonlinear fractional program. Lastly, duality in convex programming is shown to be a special case of the present problem.The present research is partially supported by National Research Council of Canada.     

A simplicial branch and bound duality-bounds algorithm for the linear sum-of-ratios problem

In this article, we present and validate a simplicial branch and bound duality-bounds algorithm for globally solving the linear sum-of-ratios fractional program. The algorithm computes the lower bounds called for during the branch and bound search by solving ordinary linear programming problems. These problems are derived by using Lagrangian duality theory. The algorithm applies to a wide class of linear sum-of-ratios fractional programs. Two sample problems are solved, and the potential practical and computational advantages of the algorithm are indicated.     

双层线性规划的一个全局优化方法

用线性规划对偶理论分析了双层线性规划的最优解与下层问题的对偶问题可行域上极点之间的关系，通过求得下层问题的对偶问题可行域上的极点，将双层线性规划转化为有限个线性规划问题，从而用线性规划方法求得问题的全局最优解．由于下层对偶问题可行域上只有有限个极点，所以方法具有全局收敛性．     

Convex dual for quadratic concave fractional programs

For a fractional program with a quadratic numerator and an arbitrary concave denominator, a new convex dual program is derived. Concepts of conjugate duality are used to obtain an explicit representation of the dual.The authors are grateful to two anonymous referees and the Associate Editor for their comments.     

Using duality to solve generalized fractional programming problems

In this paper we explore the relations between the standard dual problem of a convex generalized fractional programming problem and the partial dual problem proposed by Barros et al. (1994). Taking into account the similarities between these dual problems and using basic duality results we propose a new algorithm to directly solve the standard dual of a convex generalized fractional programming problem, and hence the original primal problem, if strong duality holds. This new algorithm works in a similar way as the algorithm proposed in Barros et al. (1994) to solve the partial dual problem. Although the convergence rates of both algorithms are similar, the new algorithm requires slightly more restrictive assumptions to ensure a superlinear convergence rate. An important characteristic of the new algorithm is that it extends to the nonlinear case the Dinkelbach-type algorithm of Crouzeix et al. (1985) applied to the standard dual problem of a generalized linear fractional program. Moreover, the general duality results derived for the nonlinear case, yield an alternative way to derive the standard dual of a generalized linear fractional program. The numerical results, in case of quadratic-linear ratios and linear constraints, show that solving the standard dual via the new algorithm is in most cases more efficient than applying directly the Dinkelbach-type algorithm to the original generalized fractional programming problem. However, the numerical results also indicate that solving the alternative dual (Barros et al., 1994) is in general more efficient than solving the standard dual.This research was carried out at the Econometric Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands and was supported by the Tinbergen Institute Rotterdam     

Multiobjective duality for convex ratios

In this paper we present a duality approach for a multiobjective fractional programming problem. The components of the vector objective function are particular ratios involving the square of a convex function and a positive concave function. Applying the Fenchel-Rockafellar duality theory for a scalar optimization problem associated to the multiobjective primal, a dual problem is derived. This scalar dual problem is formulated in terms of conjugate functions and its structure gives an idea about how to construct a multiobjective dual problem in a natural way. Weak and strong duality assertions are presented.     

On the sufficiency of finite support duals in semi-infinite linear programming

We consider semi-infinite linear programs with countably many constraints indexed by the natural numbers. When the constraint space is the vector space of all real valued sequences, we show that the finite support (Haar) dual is equivalent to the algebraic Lagrangian dual of the linear program. This settles a question left open by Anderson and Nash (1987). This result implies that if there is a duality gap between the primal linear program and its finite support dual, then this duality gap cannot be closed by considering the larger space of dual variables that define the algebraic Lagrangian dual. However, if the constraint space corresponds to certain subspaces of all real-valued sequences, there may be a strictly positive duality gap with the finite support dual, but a zero duality gap with the algebraic Lagrangian dual.