# Linear Functions and Constraints¶

This module implements linear functions (see LinearFunction) in formal variables and chained (in)equalities between them (see LinearConstraint). By convention, these are always written as either equalities or less-or-equal. For example:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: f = 1 + x[1] + 2*x[2];  f     #  a linear function
1 + x_0 + 2*x_1
sage: type(f)
<class 'sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunction'>

sage: c = (0 <= f);  c    # a constraint
0 <= 1 + x_0 + 2*x_1
sage: type(c)
<class 'sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearConstraint'>


Note that you can use this module without any reference to linear programming, it only implements linear functions over a base ring and constraints. However, for ease of demonstration we will always construct them out of linear programs (see mip).

Constraints can be equations or (non-strict) inequalities. They can be chained:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: x[0] == x[1] == x[2] == x[3]
x_0 == x_1 == x_2 == x_3

sage: ieq_01234 = x[0] <= x[1] <= x[2] <= x[3] <= x[4]
sage: ieq_01234
x_0 <= x_1 <= x_2 <= x_3 <= x_4


If necessary, the direction of inequality is flipped to always write inequalities as less or equal:

sage: x[5] >= ieq_01234
x_0 <= x_1 <= x_2 <= x_3 <= x_4 <= x_5

sage: (x[5] <= x[6]) >= ieq_01234
x_0 <= x_1 <= x_2 <= x_3 <= x_4 <= x_5 <= x_6
sage: (x[5] <= x[6]) <= ieq_01234
x_5 <= x_6 <= x_0 <= x_1 <= x_2 <= x_3 <= x_4


Warning

The implementation of chained inequalities uses a Python hack to make it work, so it is not completely robust. In particular, while constants are allowed, no two constants can appear next to each other. The following does not work for example:

sage: x[0] <= 3 <= 4
True


If you really need this for some reason, you can explicitly convert the constants to a LinearFunction:

sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import LinearFunctionsParent
sage: LF = LinearFunctionsParent(QQ)
sage: x[1] <= LF(3) <= LF(4)
x_1 <= 3 <= 4

class sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearConstraint

A class to represent formal Linear Constraints.

A Linear Constraint being an inequality between two linear functions, this class lets the user write LinearFunction1 <= LinearFunction2 to define the corresponding constraint, which can potentially involve several layers of such inequalities (A <= B <= C), or even equalities like A == B == C.

Trivial constraints (meaning that they have only one term and no relation) are also allowed. They are required for the coercion system to work.

Warning

This class has no reason to be instantiated by the user, and is meant to be used by instances of MixedIntegerLinearProgram.

INPUT:

• parent – the parent, a LinearConstraintsParent_class

• terms – a list/tuple/iterable of two or more linear functions (or things that can be converted into linear functions).

• equality – boolean (default: False). Whether the terms are the entries of a chained less-or-equal (<=) inequality or a chained equality.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: b = p.new_variable()
sage: b[2]+2*b[3] <= b[8]-5
x_0 + 2*x_1 <= -5 + x_2

equals(left, right)

Compare left and right.

OUTPUT:

Boolean. Whether all terms of left and right are equal. Note that this is stronger than mathematical equivalence of the relations.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: (x[1] + 1 >= 2).equals(3/3 + 1*x[1] + 0*x[2] >= 8/4)
True
sage: (x[1] + 1 >= 2).equals(x[1] + 1-1 >= 1-1)
False

equations()

Iterate over the unchained(!) equations

OUTPUT:

An iterator over pairs (lhs, rhs) such that the individual equations are lhs == rhs.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: b = p.new_variable()
sage: eqns = 1 == b[0] == b[2] == 3 == b[3];  eqns
1 == x_0 == x_1 == 3 == x_2
sage: for lhs, rhs in eqns.equations():
....:     print(str(lhs) + ' == ' + str(rhs))
1 == x_0
x_0 == x_1
x_1 == 3
3 == x_2

inequalities()

Iterate over the unchained(!) inequalities

OUTPUT:

An iterator over pairs (lhs, rhs) such that the individual equations are lhs <= rhs.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: b = p.new_variable()
sage: ieq = 1 <= b[0] <= b[2] <= 3 <= b[3]; ieq
1 <= x_0 <= x_1 <= 3 <= x_2

sage: for lhs, rhs in ieq.inequalities():
....:     print(str(lhs) + ' <= ' + str(rhs))
1 <= x_0
x_0 <= x_1
x_1 <= 3
3 <= x_2

is_equation()

Whether the constraint is a chained equation

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: b = p.new_variable()
sage: (b[0] == b[1]).is_equation()
True
sage: (b[0] <= b[1]).is_equation()
False

is_less_or_equal()

Whether the constraint is a chained less-or_equal inequality

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: b = p.new_variable()
sage: (b[0] == b[1]).is_less_or_equal()
False
sage: (b[0] <= b[1]).is_less_or_equal()
True

is_trivial()

Test whether the constraint is trivial.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: LC = p.linear_constraints_parent()
sage: ieq = LC(1,2);  ieq
1 <= 2
sage: ieq.is_trivial()
False

sage: ieq = LC(1);  ieq
trivial constraint starting with 1
sage: ieq.is_trivial()
True

sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearConstraintsParent(linear_functions_parent)

Return the parent for linear functions over base_ring.

The output is cached, so only a single parent is ever constructed for a given base ring.

INPUT:

OUTPUT:

The parent of the linear constraints with the given linear functions.

EXAMPLES:

sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import (
....:     LinearFunctionsParent, LinearConstraintsParent)
sage: LF = LinearFunctionsParent(QQ)
sage: LinearConstraintsParent(LF)
Linear constraints over Rational Field

class sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearConstraintsParent_class

Parent for LinearConstraint

Warning

This class has no reason to be instantiated by the user, and is meant to be used by instances of MixedIntegerLinearProgram. Also, use the LinearConstraintsParent() factory function.

INPUT/OUTPUT:

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: LC = p.linear_constraints_parent();  LC
Linear constraints over Real Double Field
sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import LinearConstraintsParent
sage: LinearConstraintsParent(p.linear_functions_parent()) is LC
True

linear_functions_parent()

Return the parent for the linear functions

EXAMPLES:

sage: LC = MixedIntegerLinearProgram().linear_constraints_parent()
sage: LC.linear_functions_parent()
Linear functions over Real Double Field

class sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunction

An elementary algebra to represent symbolic linear functions.

Warning

You should never instantiate LinearFunction manually. Use the element constructor in the parent instead.

EXAMPLES:

For example, do this:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: parent = p.linear_functions_parent()
sage: parent({0 : 1, 3 : -8})
x_0 - 8*x_3


sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import LinearFunction
sage: LinearFunction(p.linear_functions_parent(), {0 : 1, 3 : -8})
x_0 - 8*x_3

coefficient(x)

Return one of the coefficients.

INPUT:

• x – a linear variable or an integer. If an integer $$i$$ is passed, then $$x_i$$ is used as linear variable.

OUTPUT:

A base ring element. The coefficient of x in the linear function. Pass -1 for the constant term.

EXAMPLES:

sage: mip.<b> = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: lf = -8 * b[3] + b[0] - 5;  lf
-5 - 8*x_0 + x_1
sage: lf.coefficient(b[3])
-8.0
sage: lf.coefficient(0)      # x_0 is b[3]
-8.0
sage: lf.coefficient(4)
0.0
sage: lf.coefficient(-1)
-5.0

dict()

Return the dictionary corresponding to the Linear Function.

OUTPUT:

The linear function is represented as a dictionary. The value are the coefficient of the variable represented by the keys ( which are integers ). The key -1 corresponds to the constant term.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: LF = p.linear_functions_parent()
sage: lf = LF({0 : 1, 3 : -8})
sage: lf.dict()
{0: 1.0, 3: -8.0}

equals(left, right)

Logically compare left and right.

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: (x[1] + 1).equals(3/3 + 1*x[1] + 0*x[2])
True

is_zero()

Test whether self is zero.

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: (x[1] - x[1] + 0*x[2]).is_zero()
True

iteritems()

Iterate over the index, coefficient pairs.

OUTPUT:

An iterator over the (key, coefficient) pairs. The keys are integers indexing the variables. The key -1 corresponds to the constant term.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram(solver = 'ppl')
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: f = 0.5 + 3/2*x[1] + 0.6*x[3]
sage: for id, coeff in sorted(f.iteritems()):
....:     print('id = {}   coeff = {}'.format(id, coeff))
id = -1   coeff = 1/2
id = 0   coeff = 3/2
id = 1   coeff = 3/5

class sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunctionOrConstraint

Base class for LinearFunction and LinearConstraint.

This class exists solely to implement chaining of inequalities in constraints.

sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunctionsParent(base_ring)

Return the parent for linear functions over base_ring.

The output is cached, so only a single parent is ever constructed for a given base ring.

INPUT:

• base_ring – a ring. The coefficient ring for the linear functions.

OUTPUT:

The parent of the linear functions over base_ring.

EXAMPLES:

sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import LinearFunctionsParent
sage: LinearFunctionsParent(QQ)
Linear functions over Rational Field

class sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunctionsParent_class

The parent for all linear functions over a fixed base ring.

Warning

You should use LinearFunctionsParent() to construct instances of this class.

INPUT/OUTPUT:

EXAMPLES:

sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import LinearFunctionsParent_class
sage: LinearFunctionsParent_class
<class 'sage.numerical.linear_functions.LinearFunctionsParent_class'>

gen(i)

Return the linear variable $$x_i$$.

INPUT:

• i – non-negative integer.

OUTPUT:

The linear function $$x_i$$.

EXAMPLES:

sage: LF = MixedIntegerLinearProgram().linear_functions_parent()
sage: LF.gen(23)
x_23

set_multiplication_symbol(symbol='*')

Set the multiplication symbol when pretty-printing linear functions.

INPUT:

• symbol – string, default: '*'. The multiplication symbol to be used.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: f = -1-2*x[0]-3*x[1]
sage: LF = f.parent()
sage: LF._get_multiplication_symbol()
'*'
sage: f
-1 - 2*x_0 - 3*x_1
sage: LF.set_multiplication_symbol(' ')
sage: f
-1 - 2 x_0 - 3 x_1
sage: LF.set_multiplication_symbol()
sage: f
-1 - 2*x_0 - 3*x_1

tensor(free_module)

Return the tensor product with free_module.

INPUT:

• free_module – vector space or matrix space over the same base ring.

OUTPUT:

EXAMPLES:

sage: LF = MixedIntegerLinearProgram().linear_functions_parent()
sage: LF.tensor(RDF^3)
Tensor product of Vector space of dimension 3 over Real Double Field
and Linear functions over Real Double Field
sage: LF.tensor(QQ^2)
Traceback (most recent call last):
...
ValueError: base rings must match

sage.numerical.linear_functions.is_LinearConstraint(x)

Test whether x is a linear constraint

INPUT:

• x – anything.

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: ieq = (x[0] <= x[1])
sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import is_LinearConstraint
sage: is_LinearConstraint(ieq)
True
sage: is_LinearConstraint('a string')
False

sage.numerical.linear_functions.is_LinearFunction(x)

Test whether x is a linear function

INPUT:

• x – anything.

OUTPUT:

Boolean.

EXAMPLES:

sage: p = MixedIntegerLinearProgram()
sage: x = p.new_variable()
sage: from sage.numerical.linear_functions import is_LinearFunction
sage: is_LinearFunction(x[0] - 2*x[2])
True
sage: is_LinearFunction('a string')
False