minimumcan

Minimumcan is a term used in theoretical computer science and operations research to describe the minimal element in a set of abstract objects called cans. A can is an abstract container or item characterized by a vector of attributes, such as capacity, cost, performance, reliability, or other criteria relevant to a specific problem. The concept is used to study multi-criteria decision making and Pareto efficiency in finite collections of such objects.

Formal definition: Let F be a finite set of cans, and let a(c) ∈ R^k denote the attribute vector of can c ∈ F. Define a dominance relation: can c1 dominates can c2 if, for every attribute i, a(c1)i ≤ a(c2)i, and for at least one attribute j, a(c1)j < a(c2)j (lower values are preferred for all attributes). A minimumcan in F is a can that is not strictly dominated by any other can in F. The collection of all minimumcans forms the Pareto frontier of F. If a single can dominates all others in F, it is the global minimumcan.

Properties and computation: In finite F, there may be multiple minimumcans; the set of minimumcans is often referred to as the Pareto frontier. Computing the minimumcans typically involves dominance checks and may require algorithms from multi-criteria optimization, such as Pareto filtering, branch-and-bound, or evolutionary methods. The problem remains challenging when the dimension k or the size of F grows.

Applications: Minimumcan concepts appear in resource allocation, scheduling, product design, and any scenario where trade-offs between multiple criteria must be analyzed. By identifying the minimumcans, decision-makers can understand the trade-offs and select among non-dominated options based on secondary preferences or priorities.

Notes: The term minimumcan is a generic label used to discuss multi-criteria minimization and Pareto efficiency; its exact interpretation can vary with the problem context and attribute definitions.