Dinh The Luc - Böcker

A recent significant innovation in mathematical sciences has been the progressive use of nonsmooth calculus, an extension of the differential calculus, as a key tool of modern analysis in many areas of mathematics, operations research, and engineering. Focusing on the study of nonsmooth vector functions, this book presents a comprehensive account of the calculus of generalized Jacobian matrices and their applications to continuous nonsmooth optimization problems and variational inequalities in finite dimensions.The treatment is motivated by a desire to expose an elementary approach to nonsmooth calculus by using a set of matrices to replace the nonexistent Jacobian matrix of a continuous vector function. Such a set of matrices forms a new generalized Jacobian, called pseudo-Jacobian. A direct extension of the classical derivative that follows simple rules of calculus, the pseudo-Jacobian provides an axiomatic approach to nonsmooth calculus, a flexible tool for handling nonsmooth continuous optimization problems.Illustrated by numerous examples of known generalized derivatives, the work may serve as a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and applied mathematicians who wish to use nonsmooth techniques and continuous optimization to model and solve problems in mathematical programming, operations research, and engineering. Readers require only a modest background in undergraduate mathematical analysis to follow the material with minimal effort.

A recent significant innovation in mathematical sciences has been the progressive use of nonsmooth calculus, an extension of the differential calculus, as a key tool of modern analysis in many areas of mathematics, operations research, and engineering. Focusing on the study of nonsmooth vector functions, this book presents a comprehensive account of the calculus of generalized Jacobian matrices and their applications to continuous nonsmooth optimization problems and variational inequalities in finite dimensions.The treatment is motivated by a desire to expose an elementary approach to nonsmooth calculus by using a set of matrices to replace the nonexistent Jacobian matrix of a continuous vector function. Such a set of matrices forms a new generalized Jacobian, called pseudo-Jacobian. A direct extension of the classical derivative that follows simple rules of calculus, the pseudo-Jacobian provides an axiomatic approach to nonsmooth calculus, a flexible tool for handling nonsmooth continuous optimization problems.Illustrated by numerous examples of known generalized derivatives, the work may serve as a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and applied mathematicians who wish to use nonsmooth techniques and continuous optimization to model and solve problems in mathematical programming, operations research, and engineering. Readers require only a modest background in undergraduate mathematical analysis to follow the material with minimal effort.

This book introduces the reader to the field of multiobjective optimization through problems with simple structures, namely those in which the objective function and constraints are linear. Fundamental notions as well as state-of-the-art advances are presented in a comprehensive way and illustrated with the help of numerous examples. Three of the most popular methods for solving multiobjective linear problems are explained, and exercises are provided at the end of each chapter, helping students to grasp and apply key concepts and methods to more complex problems. The book was motivated by the fact that the majority of the practical problems we encounter in management science, engineering or operations research involve conflicting criteria and therefore it is more convenient to formulate them as multicriteria optimization models, the solution concepts and methods of which cannot be treated using traditional mathematical programming approaches.

Three of the most popular methods for solving multiobjective linear problems are explained, and exercises are provided at the end of each chapter, helping students to grasp and apply key concepts and methods to more complex problems.

In mathematics generalization is one of the main activities of researchers. It opens up new theoretical horizons and broadens the ?elds of applications. Intensive study of generalized convex objects began about three decades ago when the theory of convex analysis nearly reached its perfect stage of devel- ment with the pioneering contributions of Fenchel, Moreau, Rockafellar and others. The involvement of a number of scholars in the study of generalized convex functions and generalized monotone operators in recent years is due to the quest for more general techniques that are able to describe and treat models of the real world in which convexity and monotonicity are relaxed. Ideas and methods of generalized convexity are now within reach not only in mathematics, but also in economics, engineering, mechanics, ?nance and other applied sciences. This volume of referred papers, carefully selected from the contributions delivered at the 8th International Symposium on Generalized Convexity and Monotonicity (Varese, 4-8 July, 2005), o?ers a global picture of current trends of research in generalized convexity and generalized monotonicity.It begins withthreeinvitedlecturesbyKonnov,LevinandPardalosonnumericalvar- tionalanalysis,mathematicaleconomicsandinvexity,respectively.Thencome twenty four full length papers on new achievements in both the theory of the ?eld and its applications. The diapason of the topics tackled in these cont- butions is very large. It encompasses, in particular, variational inequalities, equilibrium problems, game theory, optimization, control, numerical me- ods in solving multiobjective optimization problems, consumer preferences, discrete convexity and many others.