Computational methods in optimization

David Gleich

Purdue University

Spring 2012

Course number CS 52000

Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00-1:15pm

Lawson 1106

Homework 1

$\newcommand{\eps}{\varepsilon} \newcommand{\kron}{\otimes} \DeclareMathOperator{\diag}{diag} \DeclareMathOperator{\trace}{trace} \DeclareMathOperator{\rank}{rank} \DeclareMathOperator*{\minimize}{minimize} \DeclareMathOperator*{\maximize}{maximize} \DeclareMathOperator{\subjectto}{subject to} \newcommand{\mat}[1]{\boldsymbol{#1}} \renewcommand{\vec}[1]{\boldsymbol{\mathrm{#1}}} \newcommand{\vecalt}[1]{\boldsymbol{#1}} \newcommand{\conj}[1]{\overline{#1}} \newcommand{\normof}[1]{\|#1\|} \newcommand{\onormof}[2]{\|#1\|_{#2}} \newcommand{\MIN}[2]{\begin{array}{ll} \minimize_{#1} & {#2} \end{array}} \newcommand{\MINone}[3]{\begin{array}{ll} \minimize_{#1} & {#2} \\ \subjectto & {#3} \end{array}} \newcommand{\MINthree}[5]{\begin{array}{ll} \minimize_{#1} & {#2} \\ \subjectto & {#3} \\ & {#4} \\ & {#5} \end{array}} \newcommand{\MAX}[2]{\begin{array}{ll} \maximize_{#1} & {#2} \end{array}} \newcommand{\MAXone}[3]{\begin{array}{ll} \maximize_{#1} & {#2} \\ \subjectto & {#3} \end{array}} \newcommand{\itr}[2]{#1^{(#2)}} \newcommand{\itn}[1]{^{(#1)}} \newcommand{\prob}{\mathbb{P}} \newcommand{\probof}[1]{\prob\left\{ #1 \right\}} \newcommand{\pmat}[1]{\begin{pmatrix} #1 \end{pmatrix}} \newcommand{\bmat}[1]{\begin{bmatrix} #1 \end{bmatrix}} \newcommand{\spmat}[1]{\left(\begin{smallmatrix} #1 \end{smallmatrix}\right)} \newcommand{\sbmat}[1]{\left[\begin{smallmatrix} #1 \end{smallmatrix}\right]} \newcommand{\RR}{\mathbb{R}} \newcommand{\CC}{\mathbb{C}} \newcommand{\eye}{\mat{I}} \newcommand{\mA}{\mat{A}} \newcommand{\mB}{\mat{B}} \newcommand{\mC}{\mat{C}} \newcommand{\mD}{\mat{D}} \newcommand{\mE}{\mat{E}} \newcommand{\mF}{\mat{F}} \newcommand{\mG}{\mat{G}} \newcommand{\mH}{\mat{H}} \newcommand{\mI}{\mat{I}} \newcommand{\mJ}{\mat{J}} \newcommand{\mK}{\mat{K}} \newcommand{\mL}{\mat{L}} \newcommand{\mM}{\mat{M}} \newcommand{\mN}{\mat{N}} \newcommand{\mO}{\mat{O}} \newcommand{\mP}{\mat{P}} \newcommand{\mQ}{\mat{Q}} \newcommand{\mR}{\mat{R}} \newcommand{\mS}{\mat{S}} \newcommand{\mT}{\mat{T}} \newcommand{\mU}{\mat{U}} \newcommand{\mV}{\mat{V}} \newcommand{\mW}{\mat{W}} \newcommand{\mX}{\mat{X}} \newcommand{\mY}{\mat{Y}} \newcommand{\mZ}{\mat{Z}} \newcommand{\mLambda}{\mat{\Lambda}} \newcommand{\mPbar}{\bar{\mP}} \newcommand{\ones}{\vec{e}} \newcommand{\va}{\vec{a}} \newcommand{\vb}{\vec{b}} \newcommand{\vc}{\vec{c}} \newcommand{\vd}{\vec{d}} \newcommand{\ve}{\vec{e}} \newcommand{\vf}{\vec{f}} \newcommand{\vg}{\vec{g}} \newcommand{\vh}{\vec{h}} \newcommand{\vi}{\vec{i}} \newcommand{\vj}{\vec{j}} \newcommand{\vk}{\vec{k}} \newcommand{\vl}{\vec{l}} \newcommand{\vm}{\vec{l}} \newcommand{\vn}{\vec{n}} \newcommand{\vo}{\vec{o}} \newcommand{\vp}{\vec{p}} \newcommand{\vq}{\vec{q}} \newcommand{\vr}{\vec{r}} \newcommand{\vs}{\vec{s}} \newcommand{\vt}{\vec{t}} \newcommand{\vu}{\vec{u}} \newcommand{\vv}{\vec{v}} \newcommand{\vw}{\vec{w}} \newcommand{\vx}{\vec{x}} \newcommand{\vy}{\vec{y}} \newcommand{\vz}{\vec{z}} \newcommand{\vpi}{\vecalt{\pi}} \newcommand{\vlambda}{\vecalt{\lambda}}$

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences in a typed manuscript and submit the solution to me in class on January 17th, 2012.

Homework 1

Problem 1: Some quick theory

Show, using the definition, that the sequence $1 + k^{-k}$ converges superlinearly to $1$.

Problem 2: Raptors in space

Mr. Munroe (the xkcd author) decided that trapping you with raptors in the plane was too easy for someone that has taken this class.
After all, you did come up with the solution that you should jump to escape them, didn’t you?

Your new problem is to solve the generalized raptor problem:

Suppose raptors are positioned at the vertices of a k-dimensional regular simplex. You are at the center 20 m away from the vertices. One of the raptors has a bum leg. Which direction should you run to maximize your survival time?

• Ignore all acceleration, like we did in class.
• The slow raptor runs at 10 m/s
• The fast raptors run at 15 m/s
• You run at 6 m/s
• A raptor will catch you if you are within 20 centimeters.

Checkout wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex about how to find the coordinates of the raptors in a general space, or just use this implementation: http://people.sc.fsu.edu/~jburkardt/m_src/simplex_coordinates/simplex_coordinates1.m

1. Modify the raptorchase.m function to compute the survival time of a human in a three-dimensional raptor problem. Show your modified function, and show the survival time when running directly at the slow raptor.

2. Utilize a grid-search strategy to determine the best angle for the human to run to maximize the survival time. Show the angle.

3. Discuss the major challenge for solving this problem in four dimensions. (Or if you are feeling ambitious, solve it in 4d, and discuss would might be a problem in 5d.)