Probabilistic Analysis of an Infeasible-Interior-Point Algorithm for Linear Programming

We consider an infeasible-interior-point algorithm, endowed with a finite termination scheme, applied to random linear programs generated according to a model of Todd. Such problems have degenerate optimal solutions, and possess no feasible starting point. We use no information regarding an optimal solution in the initialization of the algorithm. Our main result is that the expected number of iterations before termination with an exact optimal solution is O(n ln(n)). Keywords: Linear Programming, Average-Case Behavior, Infeasible-Interior-Point Algorithm. Running Title: Probabilistic Analysis of an LP Algorithm 1 Dept. of Management Sciences, University of Iowa. Supported by an Interdisciplinary Research Grant from the Center for Advanced Studies, University of Iowa. 2 Dept. of Mathematics, Valdosta State University. Supported by an Interdisciplinary Research Grant from the Center for Advanced Studies, University of Iowa. 3 Dept. of Mathematics, University of Iowa. Supported by ..