Farkas' lemma

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Farkas' lemma is a result used in the proof of the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) theorem from nonlinear programming.

It states that if LaTeX: \,A\, is a matrix and LaTeX: \,b a vector, then exactly one of the following two systems has a solution:

  • LaTeX: A^Ty\succeq0 for some LaTeX: y\, such that LaTeX: b^Ty<0~~

or in the alternative

  • LaTeX: Ax=b\, for some LaTeX: x\succeq0

where the notation LaTeX: x\succeq0 means that all components of the vector LaTeX: x are nonnegative.

The lemma was originally proved by Farkas in 1902. The above formulation is due to Albert W. Tucker in the 1950s.

It is an example of a theorem of the alternative; a theorem stating that of two systems, one or the other has a solution, but not both.

Contents

Proof

(Dattorro, ch.2.13) Define a convex cone

  • LaTeX: \mathcal{K}=\{y~|~A^Ty\succeq0\}\quad

whose dual cone is

  • LaTeX: \quad\mathcal{K}^*=\{A_{}x~|~x\succeq0\}

From the definition of dual cone LaTeX: \,\mathcal{K}^*\!=\{b~|~b^{\rm T}y\!\geq0~~\forall~y\!\in\mathcal{K}\} we get

LaTeX: y\in\mathcal{K}~\Leftrightarrow~b^Ty\geq0~~\forall~b\in\mathcal{K}^*

rather,

LaTeX: A^Ty\succeq0~\Leftrightarrow~b^Ty\geq0~~\forall~b\in\{A_{}x~|~x\succeq0\}

Given some LaTeX: {\displaystyle b} vector and LaTeX: y\!\in\mathcal{K}~, then LaTeX: {\displaystyle b^Ty\!<0} can only mean LaTeX: b\notin\mathcal{K}^*.

An alternative system is therefore simply LaTeX: b\in\mathcal{K}^* and so the stated result follows.

Geometrical Interpretation

Farkas' lemma simply states that either vector LaTeX: \,b belongs to convex cone LaTeX: \mathcal{K}^* or it does not.

When LaTeX: b\notin\mathcal{K}^*, then there is a vector LaTeX: \,y\!\in\mathcal{K} normal to a hyperplane separating point LaTeX: \,b from cone LaTeX: \mathcal{K}^*.

References

  • Gyula Farkas, Über die Theorie der Einfachen Ungleichungen, Journal für die Reine und Angewandte Mathematik, volume 124, pages 1–27, 1902.

http://gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/dms/load/img/?PID=GDZPPN002165023&physid=PHYS_0006

Extended Farkas' lemma

For any closed convex cone LaTeX: \mathcal{J} in the Hilbert space LaTeX: (\mathbb{H},\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle) (in particular we can have LaTeX: \mathbb{H}=\mathbb{R}^n), denote by LaTeX: \mathcal{J}^\circ the polar cone of LaTeX: \mathcal{J}.

Let LaTeX: \mathcal{K} be an arbitrary closed convex cone in LaTeX: \mathbb{H}.

Then, the extended Farkas' lemma asserts that LaTeX: \mathcal{K}^{\circ\circ}=\mathcal{K}.

Hence, denoting LaTeX: \mathcal{L}=\mathcal{K}^\circ, it follows that LaTeX: \mathcal{L}^\circ=\mathcal{K}.

Therefore, the cones LaTeX: \mathcal{K} and LaTeX: \mathcal{L} are called mutually polar pair of cones.

notes

For definition of convex cone see in finite dimension see Convex cones, Wikimization.

For definition of polar cone see Moreau's theorem.

Proof of extended Farkas' lemma

(Sándor Zoltán Németh) Let LaTeX: z\in\mathbb H be arbitrary. Then, by Moreau's theorem we have

LaTeX: 
z=P_{\mathcal K}z+P_{\mathcal K^\circ}z

and

LaTeX: 
z=P_{\mathcal K^\circ}z+P_{\mathcal K^{\circ\circ}}z.

Therefore,

LaTeX: P_{\mathcal K}z=P_{\mathcal K^{\circ\circ}}z=z-P_{\mathcal K^\circ}z.

In particular, for any LaTeX: z\in K we have LaTeX: z=P_{\mathcal K}z=P_{\mathcal K^{\circ\circ}}z\in\mathcal K^{\circ\circ}. Hence, LaTeX: \mathcal K \subset \mathcal K^{\circ\circ}. Similarly, for any LaTeX: z\in K^{\circ\circ} we have LaTeX: z=P_{\mathcal K^{\circ\circ}}z= P_{\mathcal K}z\in\mathcal K. Hence, LaTeX: \mathcal K^{\circ\circ}\subset\mathcal K. Therefore, LaTeX: \mathcal K^{\circ\circ}=\mathcal K.

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