# transform nonlinear constraint to linear constraint

 0 Hi I have this constraint in my model; X>=Z*Y, which X and Y are nonegative continues variables. It is appreciated if anybody could help me to express this constraint to linear form. Thanks in advance. asked 24 Jan '16, 10:01 saeed 11●1 accept rate: 0% Rob Pratt 1.2k●2●6 Any hints on what Z is or shall we just kinda guess? (24 Jan '16, 13:22) Mike Trick ♦♦ No, there isnot any condition on Z but Z>=0 (24 Jan '16, 13:36) saeed Let V=Z*Y, then $$X\geq V$$. (24 Jan '16, 16:12) Slavko

 2 There's no exact linearization that I've ever heard of. You can do a piecewise linear approximation, or you can do a McCormick relaxation (which is again an approximation). The latter requires both upper and lower bounds on both Y and Z. If Z is binary (or at least integer) then you can do an exact linearization, at the cost of a size increase in the model (if Z is general integer). answered 24 Jan '16, 16:21 Paul Rubin ♦♦ 14.6k●4●12 accept rate: 19% thank you very much (25 Jan '16, 05:21) saeed
 1 Yes, pwl and McCormick are the first approximations/relaxations to try. Here are a few useful resources for more info on the latter. https://optimization.mccormick.northwestern.edu/index.php/Main_Page. This is the main page for the Northwestern University Process Optimization Open Textbook. This looks pretty useful in general. Just click on the link to McCormick envelopes (I think the mccormick in the URL refers to the McCormick School of Engineering). Pierre Bonami's slides from the 2014 ROADEF conference: http://ibm.co/1gtDdlj. Specifically see slide 39. answered 02 Feb '16, 20:54 Ed Klotz 236●2●3 accept rate: 11%
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