4OPTIMIZE THE WORLD
Optimization is the process of finding the best set of something, usually of parameters defining a function or an algorithm. In mathematics, optimization typically involves functions and uses their derivatives to locate minima or maxima. In this chapter, we’ll take a different approach that involves randomness. The algorithms we’ll use fall into two broad categories: swarm intelligence and evolutionary algorithms. Collectively, these are known as metaheuristics.
Optimizing with metaheuristics is more flexible than calculus-based optimization. What we’re optimizing doesn’t need to be a mathematical function; it could be an algorithm ...
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