Computational Physics Summer School


Laboratory
Introduction to the
Optimization Toolbox


Description

The Optimization Toolbox contains many commands for the optimization of general linear and nonlinear functions. Optimization is a very broad topic; its purpose is to find the best possible solution to a given problem (which may also include a number of limiting constraints).

Graphically, an optimization problem can be visualized as trying to find the lowest (or highest) point in a complex, highly contoured landscape. An optimization algorithm can thus be likened to an explorer wandering through valleys and across plains in search of the topological extremes.


Demonstrations

At the MATLAB prompt type optdemo for a menu of demonstrations of optimization. The banana function optimization is the most visually interesting.
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Last Update 3 January 1996