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Are valid inequalities worth the effort given modern solver preprocessing options?


Solver rounding precision vs programming language rounding precisionWhat is the “big-M” method? And are there two of them?What are the tradeoffs between “exact” and Reinforcement Learning methods for solving optimization problemsWhy is it important to choose big-M carefully and what are the consequences of doing it badly?Why the optimal value that minimizes a function does not satisfy condition?How to select a Constraint Programming SolverRead an LP/MPS file in the PuLPHow to evaluate the performance of open source solver?Are there examples of spatially explicit MIP problems?Estimation of the size of Branch-and-Bound trees using ML













11












$begingroup$


In Laurence Wolsey's Integer Programming[1], he presents a well-known procedure for deriving valid inequalities (VI) suitable for integer and mixed integer linear problems (see Section 8.3, and also Ch 9).



In the application-oriented literature, I've often seen authors present a MILP formulation then follow it up with VIs they have derived and found to be helpful in the problem, usually accompanied with experimental results (robust or not) to show the utility of the VI. (For clarification, I'm referring to VIs authors suggest adding to the formulation, not user-generated cuts derived and/or added during the solution procedure.)



Q: With the extensive pre-processing options available with commercial solvers like CPLEX or Gurobi, is this still worth doing? If yes, what are the best practices for testing and convincing oneself a VI (or set of VIs) is worth the trouble?




[1] Wolsey, Laurence A. 1998. Integer Programming. Wiley: New York. ISBN 0471283665.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
    $endgroup$
    – Austin Buchanan
    7 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    @AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    7 hours ago















11












$begingroup$


In Laurence Wolsey's Integer Programming[1], he presents a well-known procedure for deriving valid inequalities (VI) suitable for integer and mixed integer linear problems (see Section 8.3, and also Ch 9).



In the application-oriented literature, I've often seen authors present a MILP formulation then follow it up with VIs they have derived and found to be helpful in the problem, usually accompanied with experimental results (robust or not) to show the utility of the VI. (For clarification, I'm referring to VIs authors suggest adding to the formulation, not user-generated cuts derived and/or added during the solution procedure.)



Q: With the extensive pre-processing options available with commercial solvers like CPLEX or Gurobi, is this still worth doing? If yes, what are the best practices for testing and convincing oneself a VI (or set of VIs) is worth the trouble?




[1] Wolsey, Laurence A. 1998. Integer Programming. Wiley: New York. ISBN 0471283665.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
    $endgroup$
    – Austin Buchanan
    7 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    @AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    7 hours ago













11












11








11





$begingroup$


In Laurence Wolsey's Integer Programming[1], he presents a well-known procedure for deriving valid inequalities (VI) suitable for integer and mixed integer linear problems (see Section 8.3, and also Ch 9).



In the application-oriented literature, I've often seen authors present a MILP formulation then follow it up with VIs they have derived and found to be helpful in the problem, usually accompanied with experimental results (robust or not) to show the utility of the VI. (For clarification, I'm referring to VIs authors suggest adding to the formulation, not user-generated cuts derived and/or added during the solution procedure.)



Q: With the extensive pre-processing options available with commercial solvers like CPLEX or Gurobi, is this still worth doing? If yes, what are the best practices for testing and convincing oneself a VI (or set of VIs) is worth the trouble?




[1] Wolsey, Laurence A. 1998. Integer Programming. Wiley: New York. ISBN 0471283665.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




In Laurence Wolsey's Integer Programming[1], he presents a well-known procedure for deriving valid inequalities (VI) suitable for integer and mixed integer linear problems (see Section 8.3, and also Ch 9).



In the application-oriented literature, I've often seen authors present a MILP formulation then follow it up with VIs they have derived and found to be helpful in the problem, usually accompanied with experimental results (robust or not) to show the utility of the VI. (For clarification, I'm referring to VIs authors suggest adding to the formulation, not user-generated cuts derived and/or added during the solution procedure.)



Q: With the extensive pre-processing options available with commercial solvers like CPLEX or Gurobi, is this still worth doing? If yes, what are the best practices for testing and convincing oneself a VI (or set of VIs) is worth the trouble?




[1] Wolsey, Laurence A. 1998. Integer Programming. Wiley: New York. ISBN 0471283665.







mixed-integer-programming optimization solver valid-inequalities






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 7 hours ago







SecretAgentMan

















asked 8 hours ago









SecretAgentManSecretAgentMan

6512 silver badges21 bronze badges




6512 silver badges21 bronze badges














  • $begingroup$
    Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
    $endgroup$
    – Austin Buchanan
    7 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    @AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    7 hours ago
















  • $begingroup$
    Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
    $endgroup$
    – Austin Buchanan
    7 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    @AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    7 hours ago















$begingroup$
Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
$endgroup$
– Austin Buchanan
7 hours ago





$begingroup$
Valid inequalities generally do help. That's why all good MIP solvers use them. Are you asking if it's worth it to add user-generated cuts?
$endgroup$
– Austin Buchanan
7 hours ago













$begingroup$
@AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
$endgroup$
– SecretAgentMan
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
@AustinBuchanan Latest edit should help clarify. Yes, VIs are useful during the solution procedure (we need cuts!). I'm specifically talking about the addition of VIs added to the formulation prior to passing to a solver. If this is still unclear, I'll be happy to edit.
$endgroup$
– SecretAgentMan
7 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3












$begingroup$

In my experience, it's rarely, but sometimes still, worth doing. There is no general answer however, as it's very model-specific (and sometimes even instance-specific). The only way to know for sure is to try both ways with the solver of your choice. Your results will also change over time, because newer versions of solvers generally implement better algorithms and use differently tuned heuristics.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$














  • $begingroup$
    Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
    $endgroup$
    – Matteo Fischetti
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
    $endgroup$
    – Simon
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    4 hours ago


















1












$begingroup$

It is, at least sometimes, still very useful.
I have a short note (link) on a problem in quay crane scheduling in which adding a single - rather uninspired - family of valid inequalities greatly reduced solution times.



My understanding is that you make the most out of enumerated valid inequalities when the linear relaxation of the MIP is poor, as they can quickly improve the dual bound.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$

















    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3












    $begingroup$

    In my experience, it's rarely, but sometimes still, worth doing. There is no general answer however, as it's very model-specific (and sometimes even instance-specific). The only way to know for sure is to try both ways with the solver of your choice. Your results will also change over time, because newer versions of solvers generally implement better algorithms and use differently tuned heuristics.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$














    • $begingroup$
      Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
      $endgroup$
      – Matteo Fischetti
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
      $endgroup$
      – Simon
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
      $endgroup$
      – SecretAgentMan
      4 hours ago















    3












    $begingroup$

    In my experience, it's rarely, but sometimes still, worth doing. There is no general answer however, as it's very model-specific (and sometimes even instance-specific). The only way to know for sure is to try both ways with the solver of your choice. Your results will also change over time, because newer versions of solvers generally implement better algorithms and use differently tuned heuristics.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$














    • $begingroup$
      Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
      $endgroup$
      – Matteo Fischetti
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
      $endgroup$
      – Simon
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
      $endgroup$
      – SecretAgentMan
      4 hours ago













    3












    3








    3





    $begingroup$

    In my experience, it's rarely, but sometimes still, worth doing. There is no general answer however, as it's very model-specific (and sometimes even instance-specific). The only way to know for sure is to try both ways with the solver of your choice. Your results will also change over time, because newer versions of solvers generally implement better algorithms and use differently tuned heuristics.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    In my experience, it's rarely, but sometimes still, worth doing. There is no general answer however, as it's very model-specific (and sometimes even instance-specific). The only way to know for sure is to try both ways with the solver of your choice. Your results will also change over time, because newer versions of solvers generally implement better algorithms and use differently tuned heuristics.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 6 hours ago

























    answered 8 hours ago









    SimonSimon

    5721 silver badge13 bronze badges




    5721 silver badge13 bronze badges














    • $begingroup$
      Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
      $endgroup$
      – Matteo Fischetti
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
      $endgroup$
      – Simon
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
      $endgroup$
      – SecretAgentMan
      4 hours ago
















    • $begingroup$
      Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
      $endgroup$
      – Matteo Fischetti
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
      $endgroup$
      – Simon
      6 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
      $endgroup$
      – SecretAgentMan
      4 hours ago















    $begingroup$
    Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
    $endgroup$
    – Matteo Fischetti
    7 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Not clear why you mention preprocessing: maybe you mean that modern solvers already exploit a number of (powerful) cutting plane families (VIs), and you ask whether it makes sense to investigate new ones for specific problems.
    $endgroup$
    – Matteo Fischetti
    7 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
    $endgroup$
    – Simon
    6 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @Matteo Fischetti: I did not mention preprocessing in my answer...?!? Did I misunderstand your comment?
    $endgroup$
    – Simon
    6 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @Simon Perhaps this was intended as a comment on the question? I'll wait for the commenter to clarify before I edit the question to address.
    $endgroup$
    – SecretAgentMan
    4 hours ago











    1












    $begingroup$

    It is, at least sometimes, still very useful.
    I have a short note (link) on a problem in quay crane scheduling in which adding a single - rather uninspired - family of valid inequalities greatly reduced solution times.



    My understanding is that you make the most out of enumerated valid inequalities when the linear relaxation of the MIP is poor, as they can quickly improve the dual bound.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



















      1












      $begingroup$

      It is, at least sometimes, still very useful.
      I have a short note (link) on a problem in quay crane scheduling in which adding a single - rather uninspired - family of valid inequalities greatly reduced solution times.



      My understanding is that you make the most out of enumerated valid inequalities when the linear relaxation of the MIP is poor, as they can quickly improve the dual bound.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$

















        1












        1








        1





        $begingroup$

        It is, at least sometimes, still very useful.
        I have a short note (link) on a problem in quay crane scheduling in which adding a single - rather uninspired - family of valid inequalities greatly reduced solution times.



        My understanding is that you make the most out of enumerated valid inequalities when the linear relaxation of the MIP is poor, as they can quickly improve the dual bound.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        It is, at least sometimes, still very useful.
        I have a short note (link) on a problem in quay crane scheduling in which adding a single - rather uninspired - family of valid inequalities greatly reduced solution times.



        My understanding is that you make the most out of enumerated valid inequalities when the linear relaxation of the MIP is poor, as they can quickly improve the dual bound.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Alberto SantiniAlberto Santini

        6413 silver badges6 bronze badges




        6413 silver badges6 bronze badges






























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