The s-monotone index selection rules for pivot algorithms of linear programming

In this paper we introduce the concept of s-monotone index selection rule for linear programming problems. We show that several known anti-cycling pivot rules like the minimal index, Last-In–First-Out and the most-often-selected-variable pivot rules are s-monotone index selection rules. Furthermore, we show a possible way to define new s-monotone pivot rules. We prove that several known algorithms like the primal (dual) simplex, MBU-simplex algorithms and criss-cross algorithm with s-monotone pivot rules are finite methods.We implemented primal simplex and primal MBU-simplex algorithms, in MATLAB, using three s-monotone index selection rules, the minimal-index, the Last-In–First-Out (LIFO) and the Most-Often-Selected-Variable (MOSV) index selection rule. Numerical results demonstrate the viability of the above listed s-monotone index selection rules in the framework of pivot algorithms.

► A new, general index selection scheme, the s-monotone rules are introduced.
► The scheme includes the LIFO and the MOSV rules as special cases.
► Several new index selection rules are suggested that are all s-monotone.
► Finiteness of the scheme is proven for the simplex and the MBU simplex algorithms.
► Numerical experiments are carried out using MATLAB implementations.