Some characterizations of duality for DC optimization with composite functions

In this paper, by virtue of the epigraph technique, we first introduce some new regularity conditions and then obtain some complete characterizations of the Fenchel–Lagrange duality and the stable Fenchel–Lagrange duality for a new class of DC optimization involving a composite function. Moreover, we apply the strong and stable strong duality results to obtain some extended (stable) Farkas lemmas and (stable) alternative type theorems for this DC optimization problem. As applications, we obtain the corresponding results for a composed convex optimization problem, a DC optimization problem, and a convex optimization problem with a linear operator, respectively.     

Stable strong Fenchel and Lagrange duality for evenly convex optimization problems

By means of a conjugation scheme based on generalized convex conjugation theory instead of Fenchel conjugation, we build an alternative dual problem, using the perturbational approach, for a general optimization one defined on a separated locally convex topological space. Conditions guaranteeing strong duality for primal problems which are perturbed by continuous linear functionals and their respective dual problems, which is named stable strong duality, are established. In these conditions, the fact that the perturbation function is evenly convex will play a fundamental role. Stable strong duality will also be studied in particular for Fenchel and Lagrange primal–dual problems, obtaining a characterization for Fenchel case.     

Fenchel duality theorem in multiobjective programming problems with set functions

In this paper, we characterize a vector-valued convex set function by its epigraph. The concepts of a vector-valued set function and a vector-valued concave set function are given respectively. The definitions of the conjugate functions for a vector-valued convex set function and a vector-valued concave set function are introduced. Then a Fenchel duality theorem in multiobjective programming problem with set functions is derived.     

熵正则化方法与指数(乘子)罚函数法之间的关系

由于极大极小问题在许多科学与工程中有着重要应用,特别是形如max的函数频繁地出现在各类数值分析和优化问题中,因此对于求解该类问题的算法研究长久不衰,这些算法一般分为两大类：一类是直接法,其算法设计仅以有效地求解原问题（P）为目的;另一类是间接法,其算法以找一个能够替代不可微max函数φ（x）的光滑函数为目的,故这类算法被称为光滑化方法,文[1,2]中的熵正则化方法就属于光滑化方法范畴。     

Duality and Farkas-type results for extended Ky Fan inequalities with DC functions

In this paper, we deal with extended Ky Fan inequalities (EKFI) with DC functions. Firstly, a dual scheme for (EKFI) is introduced by using the method of Fenchel conjugate function. Under suitable conditions, weak and strong duality assertions are obtained. Then, by using the obtained duality assertions, some Farkas-type results which characterize the optimal value of (EKFI) are given. Finally, as applications, the proposed approach is applied to a convex optimization problem (COP) and a generalized variational inequality problem (GVIP).     

Scalar representation and conjugation of set-valued functions

We consider functions with values in the power set of a pre-ordered, separated locally convex space with closed convex images. To each such function, a family of scalarizations is given which completely characterizes the original function. A concept of a Legendre–Fenchel conjugate for set-valued functions is introduced and identified with the conjugates of the scalarizations. To the set-valued conjugate, a full calculus is provided, including a biconjugation theorem, a chain rule and weak and strong duality results of the Fenchel–Rockafellar type.     

Duality for <Emphasis Type="Italic">ε</Emphasis>-Variational Inequality

In this paper, following the method in the proof of the composition duality principle due to Robinson and using some basic properties of the ε-subdifferential and the conjugate function of a convex function, we establish duality results for an ε-variational inequality problem. Then, we give Fenchel duality results for the ε-optimal solution of an unconstrained convex optimization problem. Moreover, we present an example to illustrate our Fenchel duality results for the ε-optimal solutions. The authors thank the referees for valuable suggestions and comments. This work was supported by Grant No. R01-2003-000-10825-0 from the Basic Research Program of KOSEF.     

A new geometric condition for Fenchel's duality in infinite dimensional spaces

In 1951, Fenchel discovered a special duality, which relates the minimization of a sum of two convex functions with the maximization of the sum of concave functions, using conjugates. Fenchel's duality is central to the study of constrained optimization. It requires an existence of an interior point of a convex set which often has empty interior in optimization applications. The well known relaxations of this requirement in the literature are again weaker forms of the interior point condition. Avoiding an interior point condition in duality has so far been a difficult problem. However, a non-interior point type condition is essential for the application of Fenchel's duality to optimization. In this paper we solve this problem by presenting a simple geometric condition in terms of the sum of the epigraphs of conjugate functions. We also establish a necessary and sufficient condition for the ε-subdifferential sum formula in terms of the sum of the epigraphs of conjugate functions. Our results offer further insight into Fenchel's duality. Dedicated to Terry Rockafellar on his 70th birthday     

Infimal convolution, c-subdifferentiability, and Fenchel duality in evenly convex optimization

In this paper we deal with strong Fenchel duality for infinite-dimensional optimization problems where both feasible set and objective function are evenly convex. To this aim, via perturbation approach, a conjugation scheme for evenly convex functions, based on generalized convex conjugation, is used. The key is to extend some well-known results from convex analysis, involving the sum of the epigraphs of two conjugate functions, the infimal convolution and the sum formula of ??-subdifferentials for lower semicontinuous convex functions, to this more general framework.     

Discrete convex analysis

A theory of “discrete convex analysis” is developed for integer-valued functions defined on integer lattice points. The theory parallels the ordinary convex analysis, covering discrete analogues of the fundamental concepts such as conjugacy, subgradients, the Fenchel min-max duality, separation theorems and the Lagrange duality framework for convex/nonconvex optimization. The technical development is based on matroid-theoretic concepts, in particular, submodular functions and exchange axioms. Sections 1–4 extend the conjugacy relationship between submodularity and exchange ability, deepening our understanding of the relationship between convexity and submodularity investigated in the eighties by A. Frank, S. Fujishige, L. Lovász and others. Sections 5 and 6 establish duality theorems for M- and L-convex functions, namely, the Fenchel min-max duality and separation theorems. These are the generalizations of the discrete separation theorem for submodular functions due to A. Frank and the optimality criteria for the submodular flow problem due to M. Iri-N. Tomizawa, S. Fujishige, and A. Frank. A novel Lagrange duality framework is also developed in integer programming. We follow Rockafellar’s conjugate duality approach to convex/nonconvex programs in nonlinear optimization, while technically relying on the fundamental theorems of matroid-theoretic nature.     

A weaker regularity condition for subdifferential calculus and Fenchel duality in infinite dimensional spaces

In this paper we present a new regularity condition for the subdifferential sum formula of a convex function with the precomposition of another convex function with a continuous linear mapping. This condition is formulated by using the epigraphs of the conjugates of the functions involved and turns out to be weaker than the generalized interior-point regularity conditions given so far in the literature. Moreover, it provides a weak sufficient condition for Fenchel duality regarding convex optimization problems in infinite dimensional spaces. As an application, we discuss the strong conical hull intersection property (CHIP) for a finite family of closed convex sets.     

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.     

Extended Farkas’s Lemmas and Strong Dualities for Conic Programming Involving Composite Functions

The paper is devoted to the study of a new class of conic constrained optimization problems with objectives given as differences of a composite function and a convex function. We first introduce some new notions of constraint qualifications in terms of the epigraphs of the conjugates of these functions. Under the new constraint qualifications, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for several versions of Farkas lemmas to hold. Similarly, we provide characterizations for conic constrained optimization problems to have the strong or stable strong dualities such as Lagrange, Fenchel–Lagrange or Toland–Fenchel–Lagrange duality.     

Symbolic Fenchel Conjugation

Of key importance in convex analysis and optimization is the notion of duality, and in particular that of Fenchel duality. This work explores improvements to existing algorithms for the symbolic calculation of subdifferentials and Fenchel conjugates of convex functions defined on the real line. More importantly, these algorithms are extended to enable the symbolic calculation of Fenchel conjugates on a class of real-valued functions defined on $\mathbb{R}^n$ . These algorithms are realized in the form of the Maple package SCAT.     

Sandwich theorem for quasiconvex functions and its applications

In convex programming, sandwich theorem is very important because it is equivalent to Fenchel duality theorem. In this paper, we investigate a sandwich theorem for quasiconvex functions. Also, we consider some applications for quasiconvex programming.     

Revisiting the construction of gap functions for variational inequalities and equilibrium problems via conjugate duality

Based on conjugate duality we construct several gap functions for general variational inequalities and equilibrium problems, in the formulation of which a so-called perturbation function is used. These functions are written with the help of the Fenchel-Moreau conjugate of the functions involved. In case we are working in the convex setting and a regularity condition is fulfilled, these functions become gap functions. The techniques used are the ones considered in [Altangerel L., Bo? R.I., Wanka G., On gap functions for equilibrium problems via Fenchel duality, Pac. J. Optim., 2006, 2(3), 667–678] and [Altangerel L., Bo? R.I., Wanka G., On the construction of gap functions for variational inequalities via conjugate duality, Asia-Pac. J. Oper. Res., 2007, 24(3), 353–371]. By particularizing the perturbation function we rediscover several gap functions from the literature. We also characterize the solutions of various variational inequalities and equilibrium problems by means of the properties of the convex subdifferential. In case no regularity condition is fulfilled, we deliver also necessary and sufficient sequential characterizations for these solutions. Several examples are illustrating the theoretical aspects.     

Copulas with maximum entropy

We shall find a multi-dimensional checkerboard copula of maximum entropy that matches an observed set of grade correlation coefficients. This problem is formulated as the maximization of a concave function on a convex polytope. Under mild constraint qualifications we show that a unique solution exists in the core of the feasible region. The theory of Fenchel duality is used to reformulate the problem as an unconstrained minimization which is well solved numerically using a Newton iteration. Finally, we discuss the numerical calculations for some hypothetical examples and describe how this work can be applied to the modelling and simulation of monthly rainfall.     

Farkas-type results for inequality systems with composed convex functions via conjugate duality

We present some Farkas-type results for inequality systems involving finitely many functions. Therefore we use a conjugate duality approach applied to an optimization problem with a composed convex objective function and convex inequality constraints. Some recently obtained results are rediscovered as special cases of our main result.     

Pricing without no-arbitrage condition in discrete time

In a discrete time setting, we study the central problem of giving a fair price to some financial product. This problem has been mostly treated using martingale measures and no-arbitrage conditions. We propose a different approach based on convex duality instead of martingale measures duality: The prices are expressed using Fenchel conjugate and bi-conjugate without using any no-arbitrage condition. The super-hedging problem resolution leads endogenously to a weak no-arbitrage condition called Absence of Instantaneous Profit (AIP) under which prices are finite. We study this condition in detail, propose several characterizations and compare it to the usual no-arbitrage condition NA.