On the Existence and Convergence of the Central Path for Convex Programming and Some Duality Results

This paper gives several equivalent conditions which guarantee the existence of the weighted central paths for a given convex programming problem satisfying some mild conditions. When the objective and constraint functions of the problem are analytic, we also characterize the limiting behavior of these paths as they approach the set of optimal solutions. A duality relationship between a certain pair of logarithmic barrier problems is also discussed.     

Extended Farkas lemma and strong duality for composite optimization problems with DC functions

In this paper, we consider the optimization problem in locally convex Hausdorff topological vector spaces with objectives given as the difference of two composite functions and constraints described by an arbitrary (possibly infinite) number of convex inequalities. Using the epigraph technique, we introduce some new constraint qualifications, which completely characterize the Farkas lemma, the dualities between the primal problem and its dual problem. Applications to the conical programming with DC composite function are also given.     

On the relations between different duals assigned to composed optimization problems

For an optimization problem with a composed objective function and composed constraint functions we determine, by means of the conjugacy approach based on the perturbation theory, some dual problems to it. The relations between the optimal objective values of these duals are studied. Moreover, sufficient conditions are given in order to achieve equality between the optimal objective values of the duals and strong duality between the primal and the dual problems, respectively. Finally, some special cases of this problem are presented.      

A closedness condition and its applications to DC programs with convex constraints

This paper concerns a closedness condition called (CC) involving a convex function and a convex constrained system. This type of condition has played an important role in the study of convex optimization problems. Our aim is to establish several characterizations of this condition and to apply them to study problems of minimizing a DC function under a cone-convex constraint and a set constraint. First, we establish several so-called ‘Toland–Fenchel–Lagrange’ duality theorems. As consequences, various versions of generalized Farkas lemmas in dual forms for systems involving convex and DC functions are derived. Then, we establish optimality conditions for DC problem under convex constraints. Optimality conditions for convex problems and problems of maximizing a convex function under convex constraints are given as well. Most of the results are established under the (CC) condition. This article serves as a link between several corresponding known ones published recently for DC programs and for convex programs.     

Lagrange-type duality in DC programming

We show a Lagrange-type duality theorem for a DC programming problem, which is a generalization of previous results by J.-E. Martínez-Legaz, M. Volle [5] and Y. Fujiwara, D. Kuroiwa [1] when all constraint functions are real-valued. To the purpose, we decompose the DC programming problem into certain infinite convex programming problems.     

有界整规划中的渐近强非线性对偶

本文提出了一种整数规划中的指数一对数对偶.证明了此指数-对数对偶方法具有的渐近强对偶性质,并提出了不需要进行对偶搜索来解原整数规划问题的方法.特别地,当选取合适的参数和对偶变量时,原整数规划问题的解可以通过解一个非线性松弛问题来得到.对具有整系数目标函数及约束函数的多项式整规划问题,给出了参数及对偶变量的取法.     

Nonlinear Lagrangian Theory for Nonconvex Optimization

The Lagrangian function in the conventional theory for solving constrained optimization problems is a linear combination of the cost and constraint functions. Typically, the optimality conditions based on linear Lagrangian theory are either necessary or sufficient, but not both unless the underlying cost and constraint functions are also convex.We propose a somewhat different approach for solving a nonconvex inequality constrained optimization problem based on a nonlinear Lagrangian function. This leads to optimality conditions which are both sufficient and necessary, without any convexity assumption. Subsequently, under appropriate assumptions, the optimality conditions derived from the new nonlinear Lagrangian approach are used to obtain an equivalent root-finding problem. By appropriately defining a dual optimization problem and an alternative dual problem, we show that zero duality gap will hold always regardless of convexity, contrary to the case of linear Lagrangian duality.     

Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Weak Quasi Efficiency in Nonsmooth Multiobjective Problems

In this article, a multiobjective problem with a feasible set defined by inequality, equality and set constraints is considered, where the objective and constraint functions are locally Lipschitz. Several constraint qualifications are given and the relations between them are analyzed. We establish Kuhn-Tucker and strong Kuhn-Tucker necessary optimality conditions for (weak) quasi e?ciency in terms of the Clarke subdifferential. By using two new classes of generalized convex functions, su?cient conditions for local (weak) quasi e?cient are also provided. Furthermore, we study the Mond-Weir type dual problem and establish weak, strong and converse duality results.     

Portfolio optimization under shortfall risk constraint

This paper solves a utility maximization problem under utility-based shortfall risk constraint, by proposing an approach using Lagrange multiplier and convex duality. Under mild conditions on the asymptotic elasticity of the utility function and the loss function, we find an optimal wealth process for the constrained problem and characterize the bi-dual relation between the respective value functions of the constrained problem and its dual. This approach applies to both complete and incomplete markets. Moreover, the extension to more complicated cases is illustrated by solving the problem with a consumption process added. Finally, we give an example of utility and loss functions in the Black–Scholes market where the solutions have explicit forms.     

On convex envelopes for bivariate functions over polytopes

In this paper we discuss convex envelopes for bivariate functions, satisfying suitable assumptions, over polytopes. We first propose a technique to compute the value and a supporting hyperplane of the convex envelope over a general two-dimensional polytope through the solution of a three-dimensional convex subproblem with continuously differentiable constraint functions. Then, for quadratic functions as well as for some polynomial and rational ones, again satisfying suitable assumptions, we show how the same computations can be carried out through the solution of a single semidefinite problem.     

On Duality Theorems for Nonsmooth Lipschitz Optimization Problems

A nonsmooth Lipschitz vector optimization problem (VP) is considered. Using the Fritz John type necessary optimality conditions for (VP), we formulate the Mond–Weir dual problem (VD) and establish duality theorems for (VP) and (VD) under (strict) pseudoinvexity assumptions on the functions. Our duality theorems do not require a constraint qualification.     

Duality and existence theory for nondifferentiable programming

Necessary and sufficient conditions of optimality are given for a nonlinear nondifferentiable program, where the constraints are defined via closed convex cones and their polars. These results are then used to obtain an existence theorem for the corresponding stationary point problem, under some convexity and regularity conditions on the functions involved, which also guarantee an optimal solution to the programming problem. Furthermore, a dual problem is defined, and a strong duality theorem is obtained under the assumption that the constraint sets of the primal and dual problems are nonempty.     

有端点约束的多目标控制问题的对偶性

考虑一类多目标控制优化问题,这里允许端点在某些曲面上任意地变化.利用控制问题的广义Hamilton函数解的必要条件,构作两种形式的对偶问题模型;在ρ-不变凸假设之下证明了弱对偶定理、强对偶定理和逆对偶定理.     

Non-Convex Strong Duality Via Subdifferential

In this article, the strong duality is treated. It is shown that the strong duality is equivalent to the non-emptiness of the subdifferential of a sort map involving the constraint functions. It is also noted that this technique is useful to verify the Assumption S. Indeed, the linearity of a constraint function h is not required as usually seen in the literature. Moreover, it is shown that this condition is easer to verify in the applications. We apply this new principle to the bi-obstacle problem, to the elastic-plastic torsion problem and to the continuum model of transportation.     

Comparison between different duals in multiobjective fractional programming

The present paper is a continuation of [2] where we deal with the duality for a multiobjective fractional optimization problem. The basic idea in [2] consists in attaching an intermediate multiobjective convex optimization problem to the primal fractional problem, using an approach due to Dinkelbach ([6]), for which we construct then a dual problem expressed in terms of the conjugates of the functions involved. The weak, strong and converse duality statements for the intermediate problems allow us to give dual characterizations for the efficient solutions of the initial fractional problem. The aim of this paper is to compare the intermediate dual problem with other similar dual problems known from the literature. We completely establish the inclusion relations between the image sets of the duals as well as between the sets of maximal elements of the image sets.      

Lagrangian Duality and Cone Convexlike Functions

In this paper, we consider first the most important classes of cone convexlike vector-valued functions and give a dual characterization for some of these classes. It turns out that these characterizations are strongly related to the closely convexlike and Ky Fan convex bifunctions occurring within minimax problems. Applying the Lagrangian perturbation approach, we show that some of these classes of cone convexlike vector-valued functions show up naturally in verifying strong Lagrangian duality for finite-dimensional optimization problems. This is achieved by extending classical convexity results for biconjugate functions to the class of so-called almost convex functions. In particular, for a general class of finite-dimensional optimization problems, strong Lagrangian duality holds if some vector-valued function related to this optimization problem is closely K-convexlike and satisfies some additional regularity assumptions. For K a full-dimensional convex cone, it turns out that the conditions for strong Lagrangian duality simplify. Finally, we compare the results obtained by the Lagrangian perturbation approach worked out in this paper with the results achieved by the so-called image space approach initiated by Giannessi.     

On augmented Lagrangians for Optimization Problems with a Single Constraint

We examine augmented Lagrangians for optimization problems with a single (either inequality or equality) constraint. We establish some links between augmented Lagrangians and Lagrange-type functions and propose a new kind of Lagrange-type functions for a problem with a single inequality constraint. Finally, we discuss a supergradient algorithm for calculating optimal values of dual problems corresponding to some class of augmented Lagrangians.     

Perfect duality for convexlike programs

The minimizing problem for a convex program has a dual problem, that is, the maximizing problem of the Lagrangian. Although these problems have a duality gap in general, the duality gap can be eliminated by relaxing the constraint of the minimizing problem, so that the constraint is enforced only in the limit. We extend this result to the convexlike case. Moreover, we obtain a necessary condition for optimality for minimizing problems whose objective function and constraint mapping have convex Gateaux derivative.The authors are indebted to Professor W. Takahashi of Tokyo Institute of Technology for his valuable comments, and also to the referees for their helpful suggestions.     

Augmented Lagrangian functions for constrained optimization problems

In this paper, in order to obtain some existence results about solutions of the augmented Lagrangian problem for a constrained problem in which the objective function and constraint functions are noncoercive, we construct a new augmented Lagrangian function by using an auxiliary function. We establish a zero duality gap result and a sufficient condition of an exact penalization representation for the constrained problem without the coercive or level-bounded assumption on the objective function and constraint functions. By assuming that the sequence of multipliers is bounded, we obtain the existence of a global minimum and an asymptotically minimizing sequence for the constrained optimization problem.