KNITRO 8.0 for Mathematica

A Solver for Large-Scale Nonlinear Optimization

KNITRO for Mathematica brings the leading software tool for large-scale nonlinear optimization to Mathematica. This application package computes a local minimum to general optimization problems composed from Mathematica functions and objects. Any optimization problem with continuous variables and smooth functions can be solved. Convex problems with discrete or mixed-integer variables can be solved as well. The package uses built-in Mathematica functionality to construct and evaluate sparse first and second derivatives.

KNITRO for Mathematica is an industrial-strength solver for large-scale nonlinear optimization, and readily handles complex real-world problems. It solves the following problem types, for small or large numbers of unknowns and constraints:

• General constrained (inequalities)
• Unconstrained
• Bound constrained
• Equality constrained, both linear and nonlinear
• Mixed-integer programming (MIPs)
• Particular convex mixed-integer nonlinear problems (MINLP)
• Systems of nonlinear equations
• Least squares, both linear and nonlinear
• Linear programming (LP)
• Quadratic programming (QP), both convex and nonconvex

KNITRO for Mathematica offers two state-of-the-art algorithms, active-set and interior-point, each employing sparse linear algebra techniques for maximum efficiency on large problems. KNITRO is highly regarded for its robustness and efficiency.

KNITRO for Mathematica is an excellent solver for optimization problems in:

• Energy (management of distribution networks, optimal plant operations, revenue and risk management, and strategic pricing)
• Finance (option pricing; portfolio optimization; optimal pricing; risk management; credit risk; strategic bidding and auctions, including Nash equilibrium, demand optimization, and nonlinear least-squares data fitting; volatility estimation; asset-liability management; and index tracking)
• Manufacturing (CAD, optimal computer chip layout, and transportation networks)
• Marketing (quantitative marketing)
• Economics (computational economics)
• Many other difficult, large-scale nonlinear problems

KNITRO for Mathematica is a local solver, which means that for nonlinear problems with multiple local minima, it will converge to any one of the local minima. Users can specify different starting points or use KNITRO's built-in multi-start feature to try to locate the best local minimum.

About the Developers

Ziena Optimization's founders include a world-renowned team of scientists specializing in nonlinear and large-scale optimization. Their areas of expertise encompass modeling and solving of optimization problems arising in business and engineering. The methods and software created by Ziena's scientists are in use at hundreds of sites worldwide to address a variety of problems in energy, communications, finance, marketing, economics, and engineering.

Product Support

KNITRO 8.0 for Mathematica requires Mathematica 6, 7, or 8 and is available for 32-bit Windows, 64-bit Windows, Mac OS X, 32-bit Linux, and 64-bit Linux.

KNITRO is © 2001-2011 Ziena Optimization LLC.

Note: Contact the developer for upgrade or trial information.