Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Optimization problem
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, <a href="/facts/Engineering/RFVg8H3I">engineering</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a> and <a href="/facts/Economics/HYctA2Dn">economics</a>, an optimization problem is the <a href="/facts/Computational_problem/jQ7bYUVh">problem</a> of finding the <i>best</i> solution from all <a href="/facts/Feasible_solution/cJUKNCmM">feasible solutions</a>. </p><p>Optimization problems can be divided into two categories, depending on whether the <a href="/facts/Variable_(mathematics)/VbQlrvKz">variables</a> are <a href="/facts/Continuous_variable/TWl5feEw">continuous</a> or <a href="/facts/Discrete_variable/TWl5feEw">discrete</a>: </p> <ul><li>An optimization problem with discrete variables is known as a <i><a href="/facts/Discrete_optimization/mItztjTH">discrete optimization</a></i>, in which an <a href="/facts/Mathematical_object/Juhyow9M">object</a> such as an <a href="/facts/Integer/PUwwrawx">integer</a>, <a href="/facts/Permutation/JSw9ukmv">permutation</a> or <a href="/facts/Graph_(discrete_mathematics)/kw3eIBUe">graph</a> must be found from a <a href="/facts/Countable_set/Wj4DmWPv">countable set</a>.</li> <li>A problem with continuous variables is known as a <i><a href="/facts/Continuous_optimization/F8HupoHR">continuous optimization</a></i>, in which an optimal value from a <a href="/facts/Continuous_function/sKbl02pB">continuous function</a> must be found. They can include <a href="/facts/Constrained_optimization/tJuCmQ4b">constrained problems</a> and multimodal problems.</li></ul>