Author Description

This book provides an introduction to the mathematical theory of optimization. It emphasizes the convergence theory of nonlinear optimization algorithms and applications of nonlinear optimization to combinatorial optimization. It includes recent developments in global convergence, the Powell conjecture, semidefinite programming, and relaxation techniques for designs of approximation solutions of combinatorial optimization problems. Audience: The book can be a textbook or useful reference for undergraduate and graduate students in applied mathematics, operations research, and computer science.