How to convert this into a set of linear constraints?

Question

Given a 1-dimensional array of binary variables, for example

x = [0,1,0,0,1]

I would like to create a new variable y such that y <= max(x). In other words

y = 0 only if sum(x) = 0.

y = 1 only if sum(x) > 0.

How do I convert this into a set of linear constraints?

I know this must be possible because IBM CP Optimizer Suite can handle this automatically, but I don't have access to it.

TimChippingtonDerrick · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-16 09:55:42Z

3

Try something simple like y <= sum(x) which will force y to zero if all the x are zero.

Then for forcing y to 1 you have several choices. You could simply add a constraint that y >= x for every variable in x, or use a big M constraint like My >= sum(x) where M is some constant which is the maximum number of variables in x that can be simultaneously equal to 1. Adding the separate constraints might give a tighter linear relaxation, especially if there are many x variables.

answered Jun 16, 2014 at 9:55

TimChippingtonDerrick

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