# Presolver

(Difference between revisions)
 Revision as of 12:49, 24 November 2011 (edit)← Previous diff Revision as of 22:44, 4 December 2011 (edit) (undo) (→Introduction)Next diff → Line 82: Line 82: It is now prudent to ask whether a given set of ''generators'' for $\mathcal{K}\,$ It is now prudent to ask whether a given set of ''generators'' for $\mathcal{K}\,$ - (the columns of $A\,$) + (the columns of $A$) describe a pointed cone. describe a pointed cone. A practical test for pointedness therefore attempts to establish existence of a line. A practical test for pointedness therefore attempts to establish existence of a line. Line 92: Line 92: &x\succeq0.\end{array} &x\succeq0.\end{array} [/itex] [/itex] - This test says that if $\mathcal{K}$ contains a line, then some conic combination of its generators can be made to point opposite in direction to another $(A_{}x\!=\!\mathbf{0})$. Constraint $\mathbf{1}^{\rm T}x\!=\!1$ precludes the trivial solution. + This test says that if $\mathcal{K}$ contains a line, then some conic combination of its generators can be made to point opposite in direction to another $(A_{}x\!=\mathbf{0})$. Constraint $\mathbf{1}^{\rm T}x\!=\!1$ precludes the trivial solution. If there is an $x\,$ solving this convex feasibility problem, then the cone described by $A\,$ cannot be pointed. If there is an $x\,$ solving this convex feasibility problem, then the cone described by $A\,$ cannot be pointed. Line 125: Line 125: &x\succeq0\end{array} &x\succeq0\end{array} [/itex] [/itex] - this linear feasibility problem has a solution iff $b\!\in\!\partial\mathcal{K}\,$. + this linear feasibility problem has a solution iff $b\!\in\partial\mathcal{K}\,$. The requirement that $\mathcal{K}$ be full-dimensional is equivalent to the condition that fat matrix $A\,$ be full rank. The requirement that $\mathcal{K}$ be full-dimensional is equivalent to the condition that fat matrix $A\,$ be full rank. This feasibility problem is a statement of boundary membership relation from convex analysis []... This feasibility problem is a statement of boundary membership relation from convex analysis []...

## Introduction

Presolving conventionally means quick elimination of some variables and constraints prior to numerical solution of an optimization problem. Presented with constraints $LaTeX: a^{\rm T}x_{\!}=_{\!}0\,,~x\succeq0$ for example, a presolver is likely to check whether constant vector $LaTeX: a\,$ is positive; for if so, variable $LaTeX: \,x$ can have only the trivial solution. The effect of such tests is to reduce the problem dimensions.

Most commercial optimization problem solvers incorporate presolving. Particular reductions can be proprietary or invisible, while some control or selection may be given to a user. But all presolvers have the same motivation: to make an optimization problem smaller and (ideally) easier to solve. There is profit potential because a solver can then compete more effectively in the marketplace for large-scale problems.

We present a method for reducing variable dimension based upon geometry of constraints in the problem statement:

$LaTeX:
 \begin{array}{rl} \mbox{minimize}_{x\in_{}\mathbb{R}^n} & f(x) \\ \mbox{subject to} & A_{}x=b \\ & g(x)_{\!}\in\mathcal{S} \\ & x\succeq0 \\ & x_{j\!}\in\mathbb{Z}~,\qquad j\in\mathcal{J} \end{array}
$

where $LaTeX: A\,$ is a real $LaTeX: m\!\times_{\!}n$ matrix, $LaTeX: \mathbb{Z}$ represents the integers, $LaTeX: \mathbb{R}$ the real numbers, $LaTeX: \mathcal{S}$ is some predetermined set, and $LaTeX: \mathcal{J}$ is some possibly empty index set.

A caveat to use of our proposed method for presolving is that it is not fast. (One would incorporate this method only when a problem is too big to be solved; that is, when solver software chronically exits with error or hangs.) That it can be decomposed into $LaTeX: n\,$ independent parallel subproblems is its saving grace; speedup becomes proportional to number of parallel processors.

### Geometry of Constraints

Euclidean pyramid

The idea central to our presolve method is best understood geometrically. Constraints

$LaTeX:
 \begin{array}{l} \\ A_{}x=b \\ x\succeq0 \end{array}
$

suggest that a polyhedral cone comes into play. Geometers in convex analysis regard cones as convex Euclidean bodies semiinfinite in extent. Finite circular cones hold ice cream and block road traffic in daily life. Each of the great Pyramids of Egypt is a finite polyhedral cone. The geometer defines a polyhedral (semiinfinite) cone $LaTeX: \,\mathcal{K}$ in $LaTeX: \,\mathbb{R}^m$ as a set

$LaTeX: \mathcal{K}=\{A_{}x~|~x\succeq0\}$

that is closed and convex but not necessarily pointed (might not have a vertex).

A pointed polyhedral cone (truncated)

To visualize a pointed polyhedral cone in three dimensions, imagine one Egyptian Pyramid continuing into the ground and then indefinitely out into Space from the opposite side of Earth. Its four edges correspond to four columns from matrix $LaTeX: A\,$. Those four columns completely describe the semiinfinite Pyramid per definition of $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$. But $LaTeX: A\,$ can have more than four columns and still describe the same Pyramid. For such a fat $LaTeX: A\,$, each additional column resides anywhere in $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$: either interior to the cone $LaTeX: (\{A_{}x~|~x\succ0\})$ or on one of its faces (the vertex, an edge, or a facet).

Polyhedral cones have infinite variety. Most are not so regularly shaped as a Pyramid, and they can have any number of edges and facets. We assume a pointed polyhedral cone throughout, so there can be only one vertex (which resides at the origin in Euclidean space by definition).

#### Assumptions

1) Pointedness of cones.  Our presolve method applies only to pointed polyhedral cones, namely cones that contain no line. (Recall that a line is a 1-dimensional Euclidean body that extends infinitely in two opposite directions.) A cone $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}$ contains no line if and only if the cone and its polar cone $LaTeX: -\mathcal{K}$ intersect only at the origin:

$LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,\cap-\mathcal{K}=\{\mathbf{0}\}.$

This condition is necessary and sufficient to establish pointedness. Halfspace figure as example of cone that contains line...

It is now prudent to ask whether a given set of generators for $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$ (the columns of $LaTeX: A$) describe a pointed cone. A practical test for pointedness therefore attempts to establish existence of a line. The test we choose is proof by counterexample: given matrix $LaTeX: A\,$ having no zero columns,

$LaTeX: \begin{array}{rl}\mbox{find}&x\\

\mbox{subject to}&A_{}x=\mathbf{0}\\ &\mathbf{1}^{\rm T}x=1\\ &x\succeq0.\end{array}

$

This test says that if $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}$ contains a line, then some conic combination of its generators can be made to point opposite in direction to another $LaTeX: (A_{}x\!=\mathbf{0})$. Constraint $LaTeX: \mathbf{1}^{\rm T}x\!=\!1$ precludes the trivial solution. If there is an $LaTeX: x\,$ solving this convex feasibility problem, then the cone described by $LaTeX: A\,$ cannot be pointed.

2) $LaTeX: \,b$ on Boundary.  Success of our method relies on point $LaTeX: b\,$ belonging to the boundary of cone $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$. One way to think of a pointed closed convex cone is as a kind of coordinate system whose basis is generally nonorthogonal and overcomplete; a conic system, very much like the familiar Cartesian system whose analogous cone is the first quadrant (the nonnegative orthant) and whose generators are the Cartesian coordinate axes.

In the context of pointed polyhedral cones, overcomplete means an abundance of linearly dependent generators in $LaTeX: A\,$. Consequently, nonnegative coordinates $LaTeX: x\,$ of $LaTeX: \,b$ are not unique; there are, generally, an infinite number of coordinates $LaTeX: x\,$. We can discern a smaller set of coordinate axes among the columns of $LaTeX: A\,$ by finding the smallest face of cone $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$ to which $LaTeX: b\,$ belongs. Then the generators of that smallest face constitute a subset of conic coordinate axes that can describe $LaTeX: b\,$. Once found, remaining coordinates may be assumed zero.

This assumption, that $LaTeX: b\,$ resides on the boundary $LaTeX: \partial\,$ of cone $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$, is realistic. This phenomenon occurs whenever $LaTeX: b\,$ has sparse representation in its coordinates. It is therefore prudent to check, before presolving, whether $LaTeX: b\,$ resides on the boundary: For full-dimensional pointed closed convex cone $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}\,$ described by given matrix $LaTeX: A\,$

$LaTeX: \begin{array}{rl}\mbox{find}_{x\,,\;y}&y^{\!}\neq_{\!}\mathbf{0}\\

\mbox{subject to}&b^{\rm T}y=0\\ &A^{\rm T}y\succeq0\\ &A^{}x=b\\ &x\succeq0\end{array}

$

this linear feasibility problem has a solution iff $LaTeX: b\!\in\partial\mathcal{K}\,$. The requirement that $LaTeX: \mathcal{K}$ be full-dimensional is equivalent to the condition that fat matrix $LaTeX: A\,$ be full rank. This feasibility problem is a statement of boundary membership relation from convex analysis []...