Adding binary variables in GLPK

Question

I'm using GLPK under Linux to solve some linear programming problems. In one of my restrictions I have:

s.t. example: binary_var+binary_val <=1;

Where binary_val is a variable defined as 'binary'.

If binary_val takes the value 1, will its sum be 2, or as it is in binary, will it return either 0 or 1?

Forgot to say that I searched in the official reference, without luck — alfongj
– alfongj, Commented Feb 19, 2012 at 16:02

Ram Narasimhan · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-19 17:28:39Z

2

If binary_var + binary_val <= 1 then here's what that constraint means:

Either binary_var or binary_val can be 1, but both cannot be simultaneously 1. Both can be zero, since the constraint is satisfied.

To answer your specific question, a binary variable can only assume values 0 or 1. But the sum of two binary variables can be 2.

answered Feb 19, 2012 at 17:28

Ram Narasimhan

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1 Comment

Thank you, that last paragrapph was the answer I was looking for!