INTEGRAL CONVEX POLYHEDRA AND AN APPROACH TO INTEGRALIZATION.
Abstract
Many combinatorial optimization problems may be formulated as integer linear programming problems, that is, problems of the form: given a convex polyhedron P contained in the non-negative orthant of n-dimensional space, find an integer point in P which maximizes (or minimizes) a given linear objective function. Well known linear programming methods would suffice to solve such a problem if: (1) P is an integral convex polyhedron, or (2) P is transformed into the integral convex polyhedron that is the convex hull of the set of integer points in P, a process which is called integralization. This thesis provides some theoretical results concerning integral convex polyhedra and the process of integralization. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a convex polyhedron P to have the integral property are derived in terms of the system of linear inequalities defining P. A number-theoretic method for integralizing two-dimensional convex polyhedra is developed which makes use of a generalization of the division theorem for integers. The method is applicable to a restricted class of higher dimensional polyhedra as well. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0712070
Entities
People
- Murray Edelberg
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology