We introduce the convex combinatorial optimization problem, a far reaching generalization of the standard linear combinatorial optimization problem. We show that it is strongly polynomial time solvable over any edge-guaranteed family, and discuss several applications.
We discuss recent positive experiences applying convex feasibility algorithms of Douglas--Rachford type to highly combinatorial and far from convex problems.
Shifted combinatorial optimization is a new nonlinear optimization framework, which is a broad extension of standard combinatorial optimization, involving the choice of several feasible solutions at a time. It captures well studied and diverse problems ranging from congestive to partitioning problems. In particular, every standard combinatorial optimization problem has its shifted counterpart, which is typically much harder. Here we initiate a study of approximation algorithms for this broad optimization framework.
Combinatorial samplers are algorithmic schemes devised for the approximate- and exact-size generation of large random combinatorial structures, such as context-free words, various tree-like data structures, maps, tilings, RNA molecules. They can be adapted to combinatorial specifications with additional parameters, allowing for a more flexible control over the output profile of parametrised combinatorial patterns. One can control, for instance, the number of leaves, profile of node degrees in trees or the number of certain sub-patterns in generated strings. However, such a flexible control req…
For any given finite group, Schulte and Williams (2015) establish the existence of a convex polytope whose combinatorial automorphisms form a group isomorphic to the given group. We provide here a shorter proof for a stronger result: the convex polytope we build for the given finite group is binary, and even combinatorial in the sense of Naddef and Pulleyblank (1981); the diameter of its skeleton is at most 2; any combinatorial automorphism of the polytope is induced by some isometry of the space; any automorphism of the skeleton is a combinatorial automorphism.
This paper presents a new algorithm for the convex hull problem, which is based on a reduction to a combinatorial decision problem POLYTOPE-COMPLETENESS-COMBINATORIAL, which in turn can be solved by a simplicial homology computation. Like other convex hull algorithms, our algorithm is polynomial (in the size of input plus output) for simplicial or simple input. We show that the ``no''-case of POLYTOPE-COMPLETENESS-COMBINATORIAL has a certificate that can be checked in polynomial time (if integrity of the input is guaranteed).
The convex hulls of face-vertex incident vectors of 3-face-colorable convex polytopes are computed. It is found that every such convex hull is a $d$-polytope with $d+2$ or $d+3$ vertices. Utilizing Gale transform and Gale diagram, we calculate its combinatorial structure. Finally, a necessary and sufficient criterion for combinatorial equivalence of two such convex hulls is given.
The concept of representing a polytope that is associated with some combinatorial optimization problem as a linear projection of a higher-dimensional polyhedron has recently received increasing attention. In this paper (written for the newsletter Optima of the Mathematical Optimization Society), we provide a brief introduction to this topic and sketch some of the recent developments with respect to both tools for constructing such extended formulations as well as lower bounds on their sizes.
In this paper we bring together tropical linear algebra and convex 3-dimensional bodies. We show how certain convex 3-dimensional bodies having 20 vertices and 12 facets can be encoded in a $4\times 4$ integer zero-diagonal matrix $A$. A tropical tetrahedron is the set of points in $\R^3$ tropically spanned by four given tropically non-coplanar points. It is a near-miss Johnson solid. The coordinates of the points are arranged as the columns of a $4\times 4$ real matrix $A$ and the tetrahedron is denoted $\spann(A)$. We study tropical tetrahedra which are convex and maximal, computing the extr…
Some basic mathematical tools such as convex sets, polytopes and combinatorial topology, are used quite heavily in applied fields such as geometric modeling, meshing, computer vision, medical imaging and robotics. This report may be viewed as a tutorial and a set of notes on convex sets, polytopes, polyhedra, combinatorial topology, Voronoi Diagrams and Delaunay Triangulations. It is intended for a broad audience of mathematically inclined readers. I have included a rather thorough treatment of the equivalence of V-polytopes and H-polytopes and also of the equivalence of V-polyhedra and H-poly…
Carathéodorys Theorem of convex hulls plays an important role in convex geometry. In 1982, Bárány formulated and proved a more general version, called the Colorful Carathéodory. This colorful version was even more generalized by Holmsen in 2016. He formulated a combinatorial extension and found a topological proof. Taking a dual point of view we gain an equivalent formulation of Holmsen's result that has a more geometric meaning.
We prove several exact quantitative versions of Helly's and Tverberg's theorems, which guarantee that a finite family of convex sets in $R^d$ has a large intersection. Our results characterize conditions that are sufficient for the intersection of a family of convex sets to contain a "witness set" which is large under some concave or log-concave measure. The possible witness sets include ellipsoids, zonotopes, and $H$-convex sets. Our results also bound the complexity of finding the best approximation of a family of convex sets by a single zonotope or by a single $H$-convex set. We obtain colo…
We develop an algorithmic theory of convex optimization over discrete sets. Using a combination of algebraic and geometric tools we are able to provide polynomial time algorithms for solving broad classes of convex combinatorial optimization problems and convex integer programming problems in variable dimension. We discuss some of the many applications of this theory including to quadratic programming, matroids, bin packing and cutting-stock problems, vector partitioning and clustering, multiway transportation problems, and privacy and confidential statistical data disclosure. Highlights of ou…
Shifted combinatorial optimization is a new nonlinear optimization framework which is a broad extension of standard combinatorial optimization, involving the choice of several feasible solutions at a time. This framework captures well studied and diverse problems ranging from so-called vulnerability problems to sharing and partitioning problems. In particular, every standard combinatorial optimization problem has its shifted counterpart, which is typically much harder. Already with explicitly given input set the shifted problem may be NP-hard. In this article we initiate a study of the paramet…
We study finite groups that occur as combinatorial automorphism groups or geometric symmetry groups of convex polytopes. When $Γ$ is a subgroup of the combinatorial automorphism group of a convex $d$-polytope, $d\geq 3$, then there exists a convex $d$-polytope related to the original polytope with combinatorial automorphism group exactly $Γ$. When $Γ$ is a subgroup of the geometric symmetry group of a convex $d$-polytope, $d\geq 3$, then there exists a convex $d$-polytope related to the original polytope with both geometric symmetry group and combinatorial automorphism group exactly $Γ$. These…
Let $K_0$ be a compact convex subset of the plane $\mathbb R^2$, and assume that $K_1\subseteq \mathbb R^2$ is similar to $K_0$, that is, $K_1$ is the image of $K_0$ with respect to a similarity transformation $\mathbb R^2\to\mathbb R^2$. Kira Adaricheva and Madina Bolat have recently proved that if $K_0$ is a disk and both $K_0$ and $K_1$ are included in a triangle with vertices $A_0$, $A_1$, and $A_2$, then there exist a $j\in \{0,1,2\}$ and a $k\in\{0,1\}$ such that $K_{1-k}$ is included in the convex hull of $K_k\cup(\{A_0,A_1, A_2\}\setminus\{A_j\})$. Here we prove that this property char…
A sequence $\{z_n\}_{n\geq0}$ is called ratio log-convex in the sense that the ratio sequence $\{\frac{z_{n+1}}{z_n}\}_{n\geq0}$ is log-convex. Based on a three-term recurrence for sequences, we develop techniques for dealing with the ratio log-convexity of ratio sequences. As applications, we prove that the ratio sequences of numbers, including the derangement numbers, the Motzkin numbers, the Fine numbers, Franel numbers and the Domb numbers are ratio log-convex, respectively. Finally, we not only prove that the sequence of derangement numbers is asymptotically infinitely log-monotonic, but …
Inst. for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Acad. of Sci.(俄罗斯科学院信息传输问题研究所)
The paper addresses a new class of combinatorial problems which consist in restructuring of solutions (as structures) in combinatorial optimization. Two main features of the restructuring process are examined: (i) a cost of the restructuring, (ii) a closeness to a goal solution. This problem corresponds to redesign (improvement, upgrade) of modular systems or solutions. The restructuring approach is described and illustrated for the following combinatorial optimization problems: knapsack problem, multiple choice problem, assignment problem, spanning tree problems. Examples illustrate the restr…
A detailed combinatorial analysis of planar lattice convex polygonal lines is presented. This makes it possible to answer an open question of Vershik regarding the existence of a limit shape when the number of vertices is constrained. The method which is used emphasizes the connection of the combinatorial analysis with the zeros of the zeta function. It is shown how the Riemann Hypothesis leads to an asymptotic equivalent of the number of convex chains.
We compute the Betti numbers of the geometric spaces associated to nonrational simple convex polytopes and find that they depend on the combinatorial type of the polytope exactly as in the rational case. This shows that the combinatorial features of the starting polytope are encoded in these generalized toric spaces as they are in their rational counterparts.
Given a set $Σ$ of spheres in $\mathbb{E}^d$, with $d\ge{}3$ and $d$ odd, having a fixed number of $m$ distinct radii $ρ_1,ρ_2,...,ρ_m$, we show that the worst-case combinatorial complexity of the convex hull $CH_d(Σ)$ of $Σ$ is $Θ(\sum_{1\le{}i\ne{}j\le{}m}n_in_j^{\lfloor\frac{d}{2}\rfloor})$, where $n_i$ is the number of spheres in $Σ$ with radius $ρ_i$. To prove the lower bound, we construct a set of $Θ(n_1+n_2)$ spheres in $\mathbb{E}^d$, with $d\ge{}3$ odd, where $n_i$ spheres have radius $ρ_i$, $i=1,2$, and $ρ_2\neρ_1$, such that their convex hull has combinatorial complexity $Ω(n_1n_2^{…
The theory of intrinsic volumes of convex cones has recently found striking applications in areas such as convex optimization and compressive sensing. This article provides a self-contained account of the combinatorial theory of intrinsic volumes for polyhedral cones. Direct derivations of the General Steiner formula, the conic analogues of the Brianchon-Gram-Euler and the Gauss-Bonnet relations, and the Principal Kinematic Formula are given. In addition, a connection between the characteristic polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement and the intrinsic volumes of the regions of the arrangement, …
We briefly introduce several problems: (1) a generalization of the convex fair partition conjecture, (2) on non-trivial invariants among polyhedrons that can be formed from the same set of face polygons, (3) two questions on assembling rectangular tiles to form larger rectangles and (4) on convex regions which maximize and minimize the diameter for specified area and perimeter. For each question, we discuss partial solutions and indicate aspects that to our knowledge, await exploration.
We exhibit an analogy between the problem of pushing forward measurable sets under measure preserving maps and linear relaxations in combinatorialoptimization. We show how invariance of hyperfiniteness of graphings under local isomorphism can be reformulated as an infinite version of a natural combinatorial optimization problem, and how one can prove it by extending well-known proof techniques (linear relaxation, greedy algorithm, linear programming duality) from the finite case to the infinite.
This is a survey on tropical polytopes from the combinatorial point of view and with a focus on algorithms. Tropical convexity is interesting because it relates a number of combinatorial concepts including ordinary convexity, monomial ideals, subdivisions of products of simplices, matroid theory, finite metric spaces, and the tropical Grassmannians. The relationship between these topics is explained via one running example throughout the whole paper. The final section explains how the new version 2.9.4 of the software system polymake can be used to compute with tropical polytopes.
We show quantitative versions of classic results in discrete geometry, where the size of a convex set is determined by some non-negative function. We give versions of this kind for the selection theorem of Bárány, the existence of weak epsilon-nets for convex sets and the $(p,q)$ theorem of Alon and Kleitman. These methods can be applied to functions such as the volume, surface area or number of points of a discrete set. We also give general quantitative versions of the colorful Helly theorem for continuous functions.
We investigate the collapsibility of systolic finite simplicial complexes of arbitrary dimension. The main tool we use in the proof is discrete Morse theory. We shall consider a convex subcomplex of the complex and project any simplex of the complex onto a ball around this convex subcomplex. These projections will induce a convenient gradient matching on the complex. Besides we analyze the combinatorial structure of both CAT(0) and systolic locally finite simplicial complexes of arbitrary dimensions. We will show that both such complexes possess an arborescent structure. Along the way we make …
We study properties of the realizations of groups as the combinatorial automorphism group of a convex polytope. We show that for any non-abelian group $G$ with a central involution there is a centrally symmetric polytope with $G$ as its combinatorial automorphisms. We show that for each integer $n$, there are groups that cannot be realized as the combinatorial automorphisms of convex polytopes of dimension at most $n$. We also give an optimal lower bound for the dimension of the realization of a group as the group of isometries that preserves a convex polytope.
A min-max formula is proved for the minimum of an integer-valued separable discrete convex function where the minimum is taken over the set of integral elements of a box total dual integral (box-TDI) polyhedron. One variant of the theorem uses the notion of conjugate function (a fundamental concept in non-linear optimization) but we also provide another version that avoids conjugates, and its spirit is conceptually closer to the standard form of classic min-max theorems in combinatorial optimization. The presented framework provides a unified background for separable convex minimization over t…
Let I=(x^{v_1},...,x^{v_q} be a square-free monomial ideal of a polynomial ring K[x_1,...,x_n] over an arbitrary field K and let A be the incidence matrix with column vectors {v_1},...,{v_q}. We will establish some connections between algebraic properties of certain graded algebras associated to I and combinatorial optimization properties of certain polyhedrons and clutters associated to A and I respectively. Some applications to Rees algebras and combinatorial optimization are presented. We study a conjecture of Conforti and Cornuéjols using an algebraic approach.
We define a notion of morphism between combinatorial codes, making the class of all combinatorial codes into a category $\mathbf{Code}$. We show that morphisms can be used to remove redundant information from a code, and that morphisms preserve convexity. This fact leads us to define "minimally non-convex" codes. We propose a program to characterize these minimal obstructions to convexity and hence characterize all convex codes. We implement a library of Sage code to perform computation with morphisms. These computational methods yield the smallest to-date example of a non-convex code with no …
This paper investigates and bounds the expected solution quality of combinatorial optimization problems when feasible solutions are chosen at random. Loose general bounds are discovered, as well as families of combinatorial optimization problems for which random feasible solutions are expected to be a constant factor of optimal. One implication of this result is that, for graphical problems, if the average edge weight in a feasible solution is sufficiently small, then any randomly chosen feasible solution to the problem will be a constant factor of optimal. For example, under certain well-defi…
A simple convex polytope $P$ is \emph{cohomologically rigid} if its combinatorial structure is determined by the cohomology ring of a quasitoric manifold over $P$. Not every $P$ has this property, but some important polytopes such as simplices or cubes are known to be cohomologically rigid. In this article we investigate the cohomological rigidity of polytopes and establish it for several new classes of polytopes including products of simplices. Cohomological rigidity of $P$ is related to the \emph{bigraded Betti numbers} of its \emph{Stanley--Reisner ring}, another important invariants coming…
We continue the approach toward a purely combinatorial "virtual" intersection cohomology for possibly non-rational fans, based on our investigation of equivariant intersection cohomology for toric varieties (see math.AG/9904159). Fundamental objects of study are "minimal extension sheaves" on "fan spaces". These are flabby sheaves of graded modules over a sheaf of polynomial rings, satisfying three relatively simple axioms that characterize the properties of the equivariant intersection cohomology sheaf on a toric variety, endowed with the finite topology given by open invariant subsets. These…
A small cover was introduced by Davis and Januszkiewicz as an $n$-dimensional closed manifold with a locally standard $Z_2)^n$-action such that its orbit space is a simple convex polytope. There exist a one-to-one correspondence between small covers and $(Z_2)^n$-colored polytopes. In this paper we study a construction of 3-dimensional small covers by using two operations called a connected sum and a surgery. These operations correspondent to combinatorial operations on $(Z_2)^3$-colored simple convex polytopes. We shall show that each 3-dimensional small cover can be constructed from $T^3$, $…
Efficient Combinatorial Optimization via Heat Diffusion
Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University(复旦大学类脑智能科学与技术研究院);School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University(复旦大学数学科学学院);Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences(上海数学中心);University of Warwick(华威大学)