Conditions for variable-metric algorithms to be conjugate-gradient algorithms

Variable-metric algorithms have played an important role in unconstrained optimization theory. This paper presents a sufficiency condition on the sequence of metrics in a variable-metric algorithm that will make it a conjugate-gradient algorithm. The Huang class of algorithms (Ref. 1) and the class of self-scaling variable-metric algorithms by Oren (Ref. 2) all satisfy the condition. This paper also includes a discussion of the behavior of algorithms that meet the condition on nonquadratic functions.