NIST

local optimum

(definition)

Definition: A solution to a problem that is better than all other solutions that are slightly different, but worse than the global optimum.

See also prisoner's dilemma, optimization problem.

Note: Some search methods may get trapped in a local optimum and miss the global optimum.

Author: PEB


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Sep 11 09:46:04 2006.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "local optimum", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed., U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/localoptimum.html

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