Max-plus Algebra and Application to Matrix Operations
Samuel Asante Gyamerah *
Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Peter Kwaku Boateng
Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Prince Harvim
Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper study mathematical theory, called the max-plus algebra, which have the wherewithal for a uniform treatment of most problems that arise in the area of Operations Research. The basic properties of max-plus algebra is also explained including how to solve systems of max-plus equations. In this paper, the discrepancy method of max-plus is used to solve n×n and m×n system of linear equations where m ≤ n. From the examples presented, it is clear that an n × n system of linear equations in (
max, ⊕,⊗) and (
,+, ·) either had One solution, an In nite number of solutions or No solution. Also, both m × n system of linear equations (where m < n) in (
max,⊕,⊗) and (
,+, ·) have either an in nite number of solutions or no solution. It is therefore clear that many charateristics of the max-plus algebraic structure can be likened to the conventional mathematical structures. Max-plus is used to solve di erent types of matrix operations. We also applied max-plus algebra in solving linear programming problem involving linear equations and inequalities.
Keywords: Max-plus algebra, matrix operations.