A Technique for Speeding Up the Solution of the Lagrangean Dual

Abstract

We propose new techniques for the solution of the LP relaxation and the Lagrangean dual in combinatorial optimization problems. Our techniques find the optimal solution value and the optimal dual multipliers of the LP relaxation and the Lagrangean dual in polynomial time using as a subroutine either the Ellipsoid algorithm or the recent algorithm of Vaidya. Moreover, in problems of a certain structure our techniques find not only the optimal solution value, but the solution as well. Our techniques lead to significant improvements in running time compared with previously known methods (interior point methods, Ellipsoid algorithm, Vaidyas algorithm). We apply our method to the solution of the LP relaxation and the Lagrangean dual of several classical combinatorial problems, like the traveling salesman problem, the vehicle routing problem, the Steiner tree problem, the k-connected problem, multicommodity flows, network design problems, network flow problems with side constraints, facility location problems, K-polymatroid intersection, multiple item capacitated lot sizing problem, etc. In all these applications our techniques significantly improve the running time and yield the fastest way to solve them.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 10, 1991
Accession Number
ADA459506

Entities

People

  • Dimitris Bertsimas
  • James B. Orlin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Arithmetic
  • Commodities
  • Computer Programming
  • Dynamic Programming
  • Ellipsoids
  • Evolutionary Algorithms
  • Integer Programming
  • Linear Programming
  • Mathematical Programming
  • Optimization
  • Polynomials
  • Production
  • Production Planning
  • Splitting
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Graph Algorithms and Convex Optimization.
  • Operations Research