Convex Sets And Their Applications

Suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this text introduces the broad scope of convexity. It leads students to open questions and unsolved problems, and it highlights diverse applications. Author Steven R. Lay, Professor of Mathematics at Lee University in Tennessee, reinforces his teachings with numerous examples, plus exercises with hints and answers. The first three chapters form the foundation for all that follows, starting with a review of the fundamentals of linear algebra and topology. They also survey the development and applications of relationships between hyperplanes and convex sets. Subsequent chapters are relatively self-contained, each focusing on a particular aspect or application of convex sets. Topics include characterizations of convex sets, polytopes, duality, optimization, and convex functions. Hints, solutions, and references for the exercises appear at the back of the book.

Thorough introduction to an important area of mathematics Contains recent results Includes many exercises

This monograph provides an introduction to the theory of topologies defined on the closed subsets of a metric space, and on the closed convex subsets of a normed linear space as well. A unifying theme is the relationship between topology and set convergence on the one hand, and set functionals on the other. The text includes for the first time anywhere an exposition of three topologies that over the past ten years have become fundamental tools in optimization, one-sided analysis, convex analysis, and the theory of multifunctions: the Wijsman topology, the Attouch--Wets topology, and the slice topology. Particular attention is given to topologies on lower semicontinuous functions, especially lower semicontinuous convex functions, as associated with their epigraphs. The interplay between convex duality and topology is carefully considered and a chapter on set-valued functions is included. The book contains over 350 exercises and is suitable as a graduate text. This book is of interest to those working in general topology, set-valued analysis, geometric functional analysis, optimization, convex analysis and mathematical economics.

This book examines the most fundamental parts of convex analysis and its applications to optimization and location problems. Accessible techniques of variational analysis are employed to clarify and simplify some basic proofs in convex analysis and to build a theory of generalized differentiation for convex functions and sets in finite dimensions. The book serves as a bridge for the readers who have just started using convex analysis to reach deeper topics in the field. Detailed proofs are presented for most of the results in the book and also included are many figures and exercises for better understanding the material. Applications provided include both the classical topics of convex optimization and important problems of modern convex optimization, convex geometry, and facility location.

A gentle introduction to the geometry of convex sets in n-dimensional space Geometry of Convex Sets begins with basic definitions of the concepts of vector addition and scalar multiplication and then defines the notion of convexity for subsets of n-dimensional space. Many properties of convex sets can be discovered using just the linear structure. However, for more interesting results, it is necessary to introduce the notion of distance in order to discuss open sets, closed sets, bounded sets, and compact sets. The book illustrates the interplay between these linear and topological concepts, which makes the notion of convexity so interesting. Thoroughly class-tested, the book discusses topology and convexity in the context of normed linear spaces, specifically with a norm topology on an n-dimensional space. Geometry of Convex Sets also features: An introduction to n-dimensional geometry including points; lines; vectors; distance; norms; inner products; orthogonality; convexity; hyperplanes; and linear functionals Coverage of n-dimensional norm topology including interior points and open sets; accumulation points and closed sets; boundary points and closed sets; compact subsets of n-dimensional space; completeness of n-dimensional space; sequences; equivalent norms; distance between sets; and support hyperplanes · Basic properties of convex sets; convex hulls; interior and closure of convex sets; closed convex hulls; accessibility lemma; regularity of convex sets; affine hulls; flats or affine subspaces; affine basis theorem; separation theorems; extreme points of convex sets; supporting hyperplanes and extreme points; existence of extreme points; Krein–Milman theorem; polyhedral sets and polytopes; and Birkhoff’s theorem on doubly stochastic matrices Discussions of Helly’s theorem; the Art Gallery theorem; Vincensini’s problem; Hadwiger’s theorems; theorems of Radon and Caratheodory; Kirchberger’s theorem; Helly-type theorems for circles; covering problems; piercing problems; sets of constant width; Reuleaux triangles; Barbier’s theorem; and Borsuk’s problem Geometry of Convex Sets is a useful textbook for upper-undergraduate level courses in geometry of convex sets and is essential for graduate-level courses in convex analysis. An excellent reference for academics and readers interested in learning the various applications of convex geometry, the book is also appropriate for teachers who would like to convey a better understanding and appreciation of the field to students. I. E. Leonard, PhD, was a contract lecturer in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Alberta. The author of over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles, he is a technical editor for the Canadian Applied Mathematical Quarterly journal. J. E. Lewis, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Alberta. He was the recipient of the Faculty of Science Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004 as well as the PIMS Education Prize in 2002.

The book is devoted to the theory of pairs of compact convex sets and in particular to the problem of finding different types of minimal representants of a pair of nonempty compact convex subsets of a locally convex vector space in the sense of the Rådström-Hörmander Theory. Minimal pairs of compact convex sets arise naturally in different fields of mathematics, as for instance in non-smooth analysis, set-valued analysis and in the field of combinatorial convexity. In the first three chapters of the book the basic facts about convexity, mixed volumes and the Rådström-Hörmander lattice are presented. Then, a comprehensive theory on inclusion-minimal representants of pairs of compact convex sets is given. Special attention is given to the two-dimensional case, where the minimal pairs are uniquely determined up to translations. This fact is not true in higher dimensional spaces and leads to a beautiful theory on the mutual interactions between minimality under constraints, separation and decomposition of convex sets, convexificators and invariants of minimal pairs.