Monotonic optimization: Problems and solution approaches

Problems of maximizing or minimizing monotonic functions of n variables und er monotonic constraints are discussed. A general framework for monotonic o ptimization is presented in which a key role is given to a property analogo us to the separation property of convex sets. The approach is applicable to a wide class of optimization problems, including optimization problems dea ling with functions representable as differences of increasing functions (d .i. functions).