Gutin, G.; Punnen, A.P. (Eds.)

The Traveling Salesman Problem and Its Variations

Series: Combinatorial Optimization , Vol. 12
2007, XVIII, 830 p., Softcover
ISBN: 978-0-387-44459-8
Due: January 2007

About this book

This volume, which contains chapters written by reputable researchers, provides the state of the art in theory and algorithms for the traveling salesman problem (TSP). The book covers all important areas of study on TSP, including polyhedral theory for symmetric and asymmetric TSP, branch and bound, and branch and cut algorithms, probabilistic aspects of TSP, thorough computational analysis of heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms, theoretical analysis of approximation algorithms, including the emerging area of domination analysis of algorithms, discussion of TSP software and variations of TSP such as bottleneck TSP, generalized TSP, prize collecting TSP, maximizing TSP, orienteering problem, etc. The book is appropriate as a reference work or as a main or supplemental textbook in graduate and senior undergraduate courses and projects.

Table of contents

Preface. Contributing Authors. 1. The Traveling Salesman Problem: Applications, Formulations and Variations; A.P. Punnen. 2. Polyhedral Theory and Branch-and-Cut Algorithms for the Symmetric TSP; D. Naddef. 3. Polyhedral Theory for the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem; E. Balas, M. Fischetti. 4. Exact Methods for the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem M. Fischetti, et al. 5. Approximation Algorithms for Geometric TSP; S. Arora. 6. Exponential Neighborhoods and Domination Analysis for the TSP; G. Gutin, et al. 7. Probabilistic Analysis of the TSP; A.M. Frieze, J.E. Yukich. 8. Local Search and Metaheuristics; C. Rego, F. Glover. 9. Experimental Analysis of Heuristics for the STSP; D.S. Johnson, L.A. McGeoch. 10. Experimental Analysis of Heuristics for the ATSP; D.S. Johnson, et al. 11. Polynomially Solvable Cases of the TSP; S.N. Kabadi. 12. The Maximum TSP; A. Barvinok, et al. 13. The Generalized Traveling Salesman and Orienteering Problems; M. Fischetti, et al. 14. The Prize Collecting Traveling Salesman Problem and Its Applications; E. Balas. 15. The Bottleneck TSP; S.N. Kabadi, A.P. Punnen. 16. TSP Software; A. Lodi, A.P. Punnen. Appendix A: Sets, Graphs and Permutations. Appendix B: Computational Complexity. References. List of Figures. List of Tables. Index.


Jahn, Johannes

Introduction to the Theory of Nonlinear Optimization

3rd ed., 2007, X, 292 p., 31 illus., Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-49378-5

About this book

This book serves as an introductory text to optimization theory in normed spaces. Topics of this book are existence results, various differentiability notions together with optimality conditions, the contingent cone, a generalization of the Lagrange multiplier rule, duality theory, extended semidefinite optimization, and the investigation of linear quadratic and time minimal control problems. This textbook presents fundamentals with particular emphasis on the application to problems in the calculus of variations, approximation and optimal control theory. The reader is expected to have a basic knowledge of linear functional analysis.

Table of contents

Introduction and Problem Formulation.- Existence Theorems for Minimal Points.- Generalized Derivatives.- Tangent Cones.- Generalized Lagrange Multiplier Rule.- Duality.- Application to Extended Semidefinite Optimization.- Direct Treatment of Special Optimization Problems.- Weak Convergence.- Reflexivity of Banach Spaces.- Hahn-Banach Theorem.- Partially Ordered Linear Spaces.

Berg, Imme van den; Neves, Vitor (Eds.)

The Strength of Nonstandard Analysis

2007, XX, 401 p., 16 illus., Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-211-49904-7

About this book

Nonstandard Analysis enhances mathematical reasoning by introducing new ways of expression and deduction. Distinguishing between standard and nonstandard mathematical objects, its inventor, the eminent mathematician Abraham Robinson, settled in 1961 the centuries-old problem of how to use infinitesimals correctly in analysis. Having also worked as an engineer, he saw not only that his method greatly simplified mathematically proving and teaching, but also served as a powerful tool in modelling, analyzing and solving problems in the applied sciences, among others by effective rescaling and by infinitesimal discretizations.

This book reflects the progress made in the forty years since the appearance of Robinsonfs revolutionary book Nonstandard Analysis: in the foundations of mathematics and logic, number theory, statistics and probability, in ordinary, partial and stochastic differential equations and in education. The contributions are clear and essentially self-contained.

Table of contents



Itenberg, Ilia, Mikhalkin, Grigory, Shustin, Eugenii I.

Tropical Algebraic Geometry

Series: Oberwolfach Seminars , Vol. 35
2007, Approx. 110 p., Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-7643-8309-1
Due: February 2007

About this textbook

Tropical geometry is algebraic geometry over the semifield of tropical numbers, i.e., the real numbers and negative infinity enhanced with the (max,+)-arithmetics. Geometrically, tropical varieties are much simpler than their classical counterparts. Yet they carry information about complex and real varieties.

These notes present an introduction to tropical geometry and contain some applications of this rapidly developing and attractive subject. It consists of three chapters which complete each other and give a possibility for non-specialists to make the first steps in the subject which is not yet well represented in the literature. The intended audience is graduate, post-graduate, and Ph.D. students as well as established researchers in mathematics.

Table of contents



Massart, Pascal

Concentration Inequalities and Model Selection
Ecole d'Ete de Probabilites de Saint-Flour XXXIII - 2003

Series: Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Vol. 1896
Subseries: Ecole d'Ete Probabilit.Saint-Flour
2007, XIV, 335 p., Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-48497-4
Due: March 2007

About this book

Since the impressive works of Talagrand, concentration inequalities have been recognized as fundamental tools in several domains such as geometry of Banach spaces or random combinatorics. They also turn to be essential tools to develop a non asymptotic theory in statistics, exactly as the central limit theorem and large deviations are known to play a central part in the asymptotic theory. An overview of a non asymptotic theory for model selection is given here and some selected applications to variable selection, change points detection and statistical learning are discussed. This volume reflects the content of the course given by P. Massart in St. Flour 2003. It is mostly self-contained and should be readable by graduate students.

Table of contents

1. Introduction.- 2. Exponential and information inequalities.- 3. Gaussian processes.- 4. Gaussian model selection.- 5. Concentration inequalities.- 6. Maximal inequalities.- 7. Density estimation via model selection.- 8. Statistical learning.- References.- Index.

Prevot, Claudia, Rockner, Michael

A Concise Course on Stochastic Partial Differential Equations

Series: Lecture Notes in Mathematics , Vol. 1905
2007, Approx. 140 p., Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-70780-6
Due: February 25, 2007

About this book

These lectures concentrate on (nonlinear) stochastic partial differential equations (SPDE) of evolutionary type. All kinds of dynamics with stochastic influence in nature or man-made complex systems can be modelled by such equations.
To keep the technicalities minimal we confine ourselves to the case where the noise term is given by a stochastic integral w.r.t. a cylindrical Wiener process.But all results can be easily generalized to SPDE with more general noises such as, for instance, stochastic integral w.r.t. a continuous local martingale.

There are basically three approaches to analyze SPDE: the "martingale measure approach", the "mild solution approach" and the "variational approach". The purpose of these notes is to give a concise and as self-contained as possible an introduction to the "variational approach". A large part of necessary background material, such as definitions and results from the theory of Hilbert spaces, are included in appendices.

Table of contents

Motivation, Aims and Examples.- Stochastic Integral in Hilbert spaces.- Stochastic Differential Equations in Finite Dimensions.- A Class of Stochastic Differential Equations in Banach Spaces.- Appendices: The Bochner Integral.- Nuclear and Hilbert-Schmidt Operators.- Pseudo Invers of Linear Operators.- Some Tools from Real Martingale Theory.- Weak and Strong Solutions: the Yamada-Watanabe Theorem.- Strong, Mild and Weak Solutions.


Boccara, Nino

Essentials of Mathematica
With Applications to Mathematics and Physics

2007, Approx. 580 p., 250 illus., Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-387-49513-2
Due: March 2007

About this textbook

This book teaches how to use Mathematica to solve a wide variety of problems in mathematics and physics. It is based on the lecture notes of a course taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago to advanced undergrad and graduate students. The book is illustrated with many detailed examples that require the student to construct meticulous, step-by-step, easy to read Mathematica programs. The first part, in which the reader learns how to use a variety of Mathematica commands, contains examples, not long explanations; the second part contains attractive applications. The CD-ROM presents the entire text content and interactive examples.

Table of contents

Panorama of Mathematica.- Manipulating Numbers.- Algebra.- Analysis.- Lists.- Graphics.- Probabilty and Statistics.- Programming.- Egyptian Fractions.- Happy Numbers.- Mersenne Numbers.- Multibases.- Quantum Harmonic Oscillator.- Quantum Square Potential.- Van der Pol Oscillator.- Electrostatics.- Motion of a Charged Particle in an Electromagnetic Field.- Duffing Oscillator.- Negative and Complex Bases.- Tautochrone Curves.- Keplerfs Laws.- Foucaultfs Pendulum.- Iterated Function Systems.- Public-Key Encryption.- Julia and Mandelbrot Sets.

Drabek, Pavel, Milota, Jaroslav

Methods of Nonlinear Analysis

Series: Birkhauser Advanced Texts / Basler Lehrbucher
2007, Approx. 600 p., Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-7643-8146-2
Due: March 2007

About this textbook

In this book, the basic methods of nonlinear analysis are emphasized and illustrated in simple examples. Every considered method is motivated, explained in a general form but in the simplest possible abstract framework. Its applications are shown, particularly to boundary value problems for elementary ordinary or partial differential equations. The text is organized in two levels: a self-contained basic and, organized in appendices, an advanced level for the more experienced reader. Exercises are an organic part of the exposition and accompany the reader throughout the book.

Table of contents

Preface.- 1. Preliminaries.- 2. Linear and Nonlinear Operators.- 3. Abstract Integral and Differential Calculus.- 4.- Local Properties of Differentiable Mappings.- 5. Topological and Monotonicity Methods.- 6. Variational Methods.- 7. Boundary Value Problems for PDE.- Summary of Methods.- Typical Applications.- Comparison of Bifurcation Results.- Bibliography.- Index.