Dr.

Debasis Sarkar

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur

CH62001: Optimization Techniques in Process Design

Assignment 1: Due on September 14, 2022 in class at 8:00 AM

1. Let ( f1 , f 2 ) :  n   be two convex functions. Let the constant   and   0 . Prove that
the function
f ( x)  x  f1 ( x)   f 2 ( x)

is also convex on  .

2. Prove that if f is convex, then g(x) ≡ f (Ax + b) is convex for any appropriately-sized matrix
A and vector b.

3. For which real numbers k the matrix A will be negative definite?

 4 0 0
A  0  5 0 
0 0 k 

4. Are the following functions convex? Justify your answer.

(a) f ( x)  e  x
(b) f ( x, y )  xy
(c) f ( x1 , x2 )  ( x1 x2 )2
𝑑 𝑓 𝑥 ,𝑥 4𝑥 𝑥 4𝑥 𝑥   
 
5. Identify and characterize (maximum, minimum, saddle point) the stationary points for the
following functions:

(a) f ( x1 , x2 )  8 x1  12 x2  x12  2 x22

(b) f ( x1 , x2 )  100( x2  x12 )2  (1  x1 )2
(c) f ( x1 , x2 )  2 x12  4 x1 x2  1.5 x22  x2
 Dr. Debasis Sarkar

6. We want to build a box whose base length is twice the base width and the box will enclose
80ft3. Cost of the material of sides is Rs. 0.5/- per square feet and cost of the top or bottom is
Rs. 3/- per square feet. Determine the box dimensions to minimize the cost.

7. In crystal NaCl, each Na+ or C1- ion is surrounded by 6 nearest neighbors of opposite charge
and 12 nearest neighbors of the same charge. Two sets of forces oppose each other: the
coulombic attraction and the hard-core repulsion. The potential energy u(r) of the crystal is
given by the Lennard-Jones potential expression (ε and σ are constants and greater than 0):

Identify the nature of the stationary point and value of the potential energy at the stationary
point.

8. Ethane reacts with steam to form hydrogen over a cracking catalyst at a temperature of 1000
K and a pressure of 1 atm. The feed contains 4 moles of steam per mole of ethane. The
components present in the effluent mixture and their Gibbs Energy are given in the following
Table. Find the equilibrium composition of the effluent mixture.

NOTE: Use Lagrange multiplier method. Minimize an appropriate objective function subject
to 3 atom balances for the components involved. You may use MATLAB if necessary.

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