Sample Complexity of Algorithm Selection Using Neural Networks and Its Applications to Branch-and-Cut

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Cheng, Hongyu, Khalife, Sammy, Fiedorowicz, Barbara, Basu, Amitabh
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Cheng, Hongyu
Khalife, Sammy
Fiedorowicz, Barbara
Basu, Amitabh
author_facet Cheng, Hongyu
Khalife, Sammy
Fiedorowicz, Barbara
Basu, Amitabh
contents Data-driven algorithm design is a paradigm that uses statistical and machine learning techniques to select from a class of algorithms for a computational problem an algorithm that has the best expected performance with respect to some (unknown) distribution on the instances of the problem. We build upon recent work in this line of research by considering the setup where, instead of selecting a single algorithm that has the best performance, we allow the possibility of selecting an algorithm based on the instance to be solved, using neural networks. In particular, given a representative sample of instances, we learn a neural network that maps an instance of the problem to the most appropriate algorithm for that instance. We formalize this idea and derive rigorous sample complexity bounds for this learning problem, in the spirit of recent work in data-driven algorithm design. We then apply this approach to the problem of making good decisions in the branch-and-cut framework for mixed-integer optimization (e.g., which cut to add?). In other words, the neural network will take as input a mixed-integer optimization instance and output a decision that will result in a small branch-and-cut tree for that instance. Our computational results provide evidence that our particular way of using neural networks for cut selection can make a significant impact in reducing branch-and-cut tree sizes, compared to previous data-driven approaches.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_02328
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sample Complexity of Algorithm Selection Using Neural Networks and Its Applications to Branch-and-Cut
Cheng, Hongyu
Khalife, Sammy
Fiedorowicz, Barbara
Basu, Amitabh
Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
Data-driven algorithm design is a paradigm that uses statistical and machine learning techniques to select from a class of algorithms for a computational problem an algorithm that has the best expected performance with respect to some (unknown) distribution on the instances of the problem. We build upon recent work in this line of research by considering the setup where, instead of selecting a single algorithm that has the best performance, we allow the possibility of selecting an algorithm based on the instance to be solved, using neural networks. In particular, given a representative sample of instances, we learn a neural network that maps an instance of the problem to the most appropriate algorithm for that instance. We formalize this idea and derive rigorous sample complexity bounds for this learning problem, in the spirit of recent work in data-driven algorithm design. We then apply this approach to the problem of making good decisions in the branch-and-cut framework for mixed-integer optimization (e.g., which cut to add?). In other words, the neural network will take as input a mixed-integer optimization instance and output a decision that will result in a small branch-and-cut tree for that instance. Our computational results provide evidence that our particular way of using neural networks for cut selection can make a significant impact in reducing branch-and-cut tree sizes, compared to previous data-driven approaches.
title Sample Complexity of Algorithm Selection Using Neural Networks and Its Applications to Branch-and-Cut
topic Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.02328