Minimizing Cubic and Homogeneous Polynomials over Integers in the Plane

We complete the complexity classification by degree of minimizing a polynomial in two variables over the integer points in a polyhedron. Previous work shows that in two variables, optimizing a quadratic polynomial over the integer points in a polyhedral region can be done in polynomial time, while optimizing a quartic polynomial in the same type … Read more

Binary Decision Rules for Multistage Adaptive Mixed-Integer Optimization

Decision rules provide a flexible toolbox for solving the computationally demanding, multistage adaptive optimization problems. There is a plethora of real-valued decision rules that are highly scalable and achieve good quality solutions. On the other hand, existing binary decision rule structures tend to produce good quality solutions at the expense of limited scalability, and are … Read more

On Augmentation Algorithms for Linear and Integer-Linear Programming: From Edmonds-Karp to Bland and Beyond

Motivated by Bland’s linear-programming generalization of the renowned Edmonds-Karp efficient refinement of the Ford-Fulkerson maximum-flow algorithm, we discuss three closely-related natural augmentation rules for linear and integer-linear optimization. In several nice situations, we show that polynomially-many augmentation steps suffice to reach an optimum. In particular, when using “discrete steepest-descent augmentations” (i.e., directions with the best … Read more

Fast Algorithms for the Minimum Volume Estimator

The MVE estimator is an important tool in robust regression and outlier detection in statistics. We develop fast and efficient algorithms for the MVE estimator problem and discuss how they can be implemented efficiently. The novelty of our approach stems from the recent developments in the first-order algorithms for solving the related Minimum Volume Enclosing … Read more

A branch-cut-and-price algorithm for the energy minimization vehicle routing problem

We study a variant of the capacitated vehicle routing problem where the cost over each arc is defined as the product of the arc length and the weight of the vehicle when it traverses that arc. We propose two new mixed integer linear programming formulations for the problem: an arc-load formulation and a set partitioning … Read more

Mathematical programming approach to tighten a Big-$ formulation

In this paper we present a mathematical programming approach to tighten a Big-$M$ formulation ($P_M$) of a Mixed Integer Problem with Logical Implications ($P$). If $M_0$ is a valid vector (the optimal solutions of $P$ belong to the feasible solutions set of $P_{M_0}$) our procedures find a valid vector $M$ such that $M \leq M_0$. … Read more

A Generalization of Benders’ Algorithm for Two-Stage Stochastic Optimization Problems With Mixed Integer Recourse

We describe a generalization of Benders’ method for solving two-stage stochastic linear optimization problems in which there are both continuous and integer variables in the first and second stages. Benders’ method relies on finding effective lower approximations for the value function of the second-stage problem. In this setting, the value function is a discontinuous, non-convex, … Read more

On the Value Function of a Mixed Integer Linear Optimization Problem and an Algorithm for its Construction

This paper addresses the value function of a general mixed integer linear optimization problem (MILP). The value function describes the change in optimal objective value as the right-hand side is varied and understanding its structure is central to solving a variety of important classes of optimization problems. We propose a discrete representation of the MILP … Read more

New symmetries in mixed-integer linear optimization

We present two novel applications of symmetries for mixed-integer linear programming. First we propose two variants of a new heuristic to improve the objective value of a feasible solution using symmetries. These heuristics can use either the actual permutations or the orbits of the variables to find better feasible solutions. Then we introduce a new … Read more

Cut Generation for Optimization Problems with Multivariate Risk Constraints

We consider a class of multicriteria stochastic optimization problems that features benchmarking constraints based on conditional value-at-risk and second-order stochastic dominance. We develop alternative mixed-integer programming formulations and solution methods for cut generation problems arising in optimization under such multivariate risk constraints. We give the complete linear description of two non-convex substructures appearing in these … Read more