Extreme point iff BFS

Dependencies:

  1. Extreme point of a convex set
  2. Basic feasible solutions
  3. Linear independence
  4. Rank of a matrix
  5. Rank of a homogenous system of linear equations

Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. Let $I$ and $E$ be sets such that $I \cap E = \emptyset$ and $I \cup E = \{1, 2, \ldots, m\}$. Let $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_m$ be vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$ and $b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_m$ be real numbers. Let $P = \{x: (a_i^Tx \le b_i, \forall i \in I) \textrm{ and } (a_i^Tx = b_i, \forall i \in E)\}$. Then $\xhat$ is an extreme point of $P$ iff $\xhat$ is a basic feasible solution of $P$.

Proof that extreme point is BFS

Let $\xhat$ be an extreme point of $P$. Let $T = \{i: a_i^T\xhat = b_i\}$. Let $B$ be a matrix whose rows are $\{a_i^T: i \in T\}$.

Assume that $\xhat$ is not a BFS. Then $B$ doesn't contain $n$ linearly independent rows. Hence, $\rank(B) < n$. Hence, $Bx = 0$ has a non-zero solution. Let $z$ be such a solution, i.e., $z \neq 0$ and $Bz = 0$. Thus, $\forall i \in T$, $a_i^Tz = 0$.

Let $\eps$ be an infinitesimally small positive value. Let $\delta_i = b_i - a_i^T\xhat$. Then $i \not\in T \implies \delta_i > 0$. Let $x^{(1)} = \xhat - \eps z$ and $x^{(2)} = \xhat + \eps z$. Since $z \neq 0$, we get that $x^{(1)} \neq x^{(2)}$. For $i \in T$, we get $a_i^Tx^{(1)} = a_i^T\xhat - \eps a_i^Tz = b_i$. For $i \not\in T$, we get $a_i^Tx^{(1)} = a_i^T\xhat - \eps a_i^Tz = b_i - (\delta_i + \eps a_i^Tz)$. Since $\eps$ is small enough and $\delta_i > 0$, we get that $a_i^Tx^{(1)} \le b_i$. Hence, $x^{(1)} \in P$. Similarly, $x^{(2)} \in P$.

$\xhat = (1/2)x^{(1)} + (1/2)x^{(2)}$, so $\xhat$ is not an extreme point solution, which is a contradiction. Hence, $\xhat$ is a BFS.

Proof that BFS is extreme point

Let $\xhat$ be a BFS of $P$. Let $T = \{i: a_i^T\xhat = b_i\}$. Let $B$ be a matrix whose rows are $\{a_i^T: i \in T\}$. Since $\xhat$ is a BFS, $\rank(B) = n$.

Assume $\xhat$ is not an extreme point of $P$. Then $\exists y_1 \in P$, $\exists y_2 \in P$, $\exists \alpha \in (0, 1)$, such that $y_1 \neq y_2$ and $\xhat = (1-\alpha)y_1 + \alpha y_2$.

Since $y_1 \in P$ and $y_2 \in P$, we get $b_i \ge a_i^Ty_1$ and $b_i \ge a_i^Ty_2$ for all $i \in I$ and $a_i^Ty_1 = b_i$ and $a_i^Ty_2 = b_i$ for all $i \in E$. Let $i \in T$. Then $a_i^Tx = b_i \implies (1-\alpha)(b_i - a_i^Ty_1) + \alpha(b_i - a_i^Ty_2) = 0$. Hence, $a_i^Ty_1 = b_i$ and $a_i^Ty_2 = b_i$, so $a_i^T(y_1 - y_2) = 0$. Since this is true for all $i \in T$, we get $B(y_1 - y_2) = 0$. But $\rank(B) = n$, which implies that $y_1 = y_2$. This is a contradiction. Hence, $\xhat$ is an extreme point of $P$.

Dependency for:

  1. BFS iff vertex iff extreme point
  2. Representing point in pointed polyhedral cone

Info:

Transitive dependencies:

  1. /linear-algebra/matrices/gauss-jordan-algo
  2. /linear-algebra/vector-spaces/condition-for-subspace
  3. /sets-and-relations/equivalence-relation
  4. Group
  5. Ring
  6. Polynomial
  7. Field
  8. Vector Space
  9. Cone
  10. Convex combination and convex hull
  11. Convex set
  12. Extreme point of a convex set
  13. Linear independence
  14. Span
  15. Integral Domain
  16. Comparing coefficients of a polynomial with disjoint variables
  17. Semiring
  18. Matrix
  19. Polyhedral set and polyhedral cone
  20. Basic feasible solutions
  21. Stacking
  22. System of linear equations
  23. Product of stacked matrices
  24. Matrix multiplication is associative
  25. Reduced Row Echelon Form (RREF)
  26. Elementary row operation
  27. Every elementary row operation has a unique inverse
  28. Row equivalence of matrices
  29. Matrices over a field form a vector space
  30. Row space
  31. Row equivalent matrices have the same row space
  32. RREF is unique
  33. Identity matrix
  34. Inverse of a matrix
  35. Inverse of product
  36. Elementary row operation is matrix pre-multiplication
  37. Row equivalence matrix
  38. Equations with row equivalent matrices have the same solution set
  39. Rank of a matrix
  40. Basis of a vector space
  41. Linearly independent set is not bigger than a span
  42. Homogeneous linear equations with more variables than equations
  43. Rank of a homogenous system of linear equations