Customer Reviews

Applied Optimization with MATLAB Programming

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book skips on some key details. For example, the linesearch methods for unconstrained minimization problems is left to a couple poorly-documented Matlab functions. Some discussion of linesearch methods should be considered in the text.

Secondly, the Matlab code is terrible. Consider lines 48-52 of UpperBound_nVar.m:

48: for i = 1:ntrials;
49: j = 0; dela = j*das; a00 = a0 + dela;
50: dx0 = a00*s; x0 = x + dx0; f0 = feval(functname,x0);
51: j = j+1; dela = j*das; a01 = a0 + dela;
52: dx1 = a01*s; x1 = x + dx1; f1 = feval(functname,x1);

Each iteration through the loop, j is initialized to 0. So dela is 0 and a00 = a0. These variables are not used elsewhere. So lines 49-52 could be simply replaced by

x0 = x + a0*s;
x1 = x + (a0 + das)*s
f0 = feval(functname, x + x0);
f1 = feval(functname, x + x1);

This is considerably easier to read than the author's code (4 assignment operations compared to 12). The variables j, dela, a00, dx0, a01, and dx1 never need to be created. Creating these variables makes the algorithm, which is not documented in the text, nearly intractable to read without converting to decent code. My guess is the author translated some ancient Fortran code into Matlab without taking the time to clean it up.

So to summarize:
1. This book skimps on details pertaining to the algorithms it has code for.
2. The code is hard to follow because of the author's programming style.

This book might be useful if you're looking for canned algorithms, but I would first check the Matlab File Exchange. This book is not useful for learning the details of how to implement these algorithms.

This textbook was required for my Optimization Methods class for a group of Systems Engineers with varrying specialities. This book is written with the assumption that everyone using it has a strong background in mechanics and materials. My classmates and I are majoring in Systems Engineering and all have varying foci (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, and Telecommunication Engineering). Most of the people in my class have never even had a mechanics and materials class, and those that have do not consider themselves prepared enough to use this text book.


All in all, this book is highly impractical for my (and my classmate's) usage.


The good news: It was cheap on Amazon.

In this text the author chooses MATLAB as the tool in running computer-based optimization problems. This approach clearly covers all levels of optimization, and the book further supports this coverage through many helpful examples that balance theory with the application. The open-ended problems that are provided are a helpful mechanism for reinforcing the lessons of the text. The website that is a companion to the book, helped me access the reference links to the MATLAB software and the author's own personal site. This web site is a true lifeline to the book.

I have used this book for my graduate course on NLP. One thing should be clear that this book is not an extensive text on optimization but it covers a lot of aspects of optimization. The main contribution of this book is that it teaches you how to use MATLAB for optimization, and it does an excellent job. For those of you who need to develop codes for solving NLP, it will make your life a lot easier. One of the review gives example of a 'bad code'. It is true and I would agree to this, however the codes are working well and are explained very well in the text. I have picked up quite a few of these and have fine tuned them for my applications. the modular structure of the codes is helpful and you can pick sub routines and use them in your coding. While using these codes I learned a lot on using matlab for optimization. simply put its worth it !

Excellent source for all people who don't have time to study MATLAB in-depth. A lot of useful examples help anyone to create his/her own code in no time!

I've had Dr. Venkat as a professor for 3 classes at RIT and he is by far the worst I have ever had. DO NOT BUY HIS BOOK! It will only make you dumber! That is how I feel after coming out of his class. I believe the reviewer that says the website is a main resource, he points us to the class site all the time with no helpful information, and because he can't answer the questions himself on the spot. Are you buying a book or a website? I think that's all the helpful information I have for now.