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Discrete optimization is a branch of optimization in applied mathematics and computer science. As opposed to continuous optimization , some or all of the variables used in a discrete optimization problem are restricted to be discrete variables —that is, to assume only a discrete set of values, such as the integers .
In mathematics and statistics, a quantitative variable may be continuous or discrete if it is typically obtained by measuring or counting, respectively. [1] If it can take on two particular real values such that it can also take on all real values between them (including values that are arbitrarily or infinitesimally close together), the variable is continuous in that interval. [2]
An optimization problem with discrete variables is known as a discrete optimization, in which an object such as an integer, permutation or graph must be found from a countable set. A problem with continuous variables is known as a continuous optimization, in which an optimal value from a continuous function must be found.
Mathematical optimization (alternatively spelled optimisation) or mathematical programming is the selection of a best element, with regard to some criteria, from some set of available alternatives. [1] [2] It is generally divided into two subfields: discrete optimization and continuous optimization.
In probability theory and statistics, a continuous-time stochastic process, or a continuous-space-time stochastic process is a stochastic process for which the index variable takes a continuous set of values, as contrasted with a discrete-time process for which the index variable takes only distinct values.
Dichotomization is the special case of discretization in which the number of discrete classes is 2, which can approximate a continuous variable as a binary variable (creating a dichotomy for modeling purposes, as in binary classification). Discretization is also related to discrete mathematics, and is an important component of granular computing.
In combinatorial optimization, A is some subset of a discrete space, like binary strings, permutations, or sets of integers. The use of optimization software requires that the function f is defined in a suitable programming language and connected at compilation or run time to the optimization software.
Continuous optimization is a branch of optimization in applied mathematics. [ 1 ] As opposed to discrete optimization , the variables used in the objective function are required to be continuous variables —that is, to be chosen from a set of real values between which there are no gaps (values from intervals of the real line ).