Mathematical optimization

In mathematics, computer science and operations research, mathematical optimization (alternatively, optimization or mathematical programming) is the selection of a best element (with regard to some criteria) from some set of available alternatives.

Description

In the simplest case, an optimization problem consists of maximizing or minimizing a real function by systematically choosing input values from within an allowed set and computing the value of the function.

The generalization of optimization theory and techniques to other formulations comprises a large area of applied mathematics.

More generally, optimization includes finding "best available" values of some objective function given a defined domain (or a set of constraints), including a variety of different types of objective functions and different types of domains.

See also

• Applied mathematics
• Feasible set
• Set (mathematics)

External links

• Mathematical optimization @ Wikipedia