Linear and Integer Programming vs Linear Integration and Counting: A Duality Viewpoint Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2009 Edition

From the reviews:

“Lasserre has produced a fascinating slim … monograph (much of the work his own) looking at the parallels between linear (respectively integer) programming on the one hand and integration (respectively integer counting) problems on the other hand. … An appendix on various transforms a hundred references and a brief index complete the work which is a welcome addition to an important set of topics.” (J. Borwein, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2010 f)

“This book is devoted to analysing four important problems: integer programming problem, linear programming problem, linear integration problem, and linear counting problem. … a very specialized book on the integer programming problem and its dual variants. … can be very helpful for researchers working in developing algorithms for the integer programming problem which is a formidable challenging problem. This is a clear and well-written book … .” (E. Almehdawe, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 61 (12), 2010)

In this book the author analyzes and compares four closely related problems, namely linear programming, integer programming, linear integration, linear summation (or counting). The focus is on duality and the approach is rather novel as it puts integer programming in perspective with three associated problems, and permits one to define discrete analogues of well-known continuous duality concepts, and the rationale behind them. Also, the approach highlights the difference between the discrete and continuous cases. Central in the analysis are the continuous and discrete Brion and Vergne's formulae for linear integration and counting. This approach provides some new insights on duality concepts for integer programs, and also permits to retrieve and shed new light on some well-known results. For instance, Gomory relaxations and the abstract superadditive dual of integer programs are re-interpreted in this algebraic approach.

This book will serve graduate students and researchers in applied mathematics, optimization, operations research and computer science. Due to the substantial practical importance of some presented problems, researchers in other areas will also find this book useful.