Subgradients
Subgradients Ryan Tibshirani Convex Optimization 10-725/36-725 Last time: gradient descent Consider the problem min f(x) x n for f convex and differentiable, dom(f) = R . Gradient descent: (0) n choose initial x 2 R , repeat (k) (k−1) (k−1) x = x − tk · rf(x ); k = 1; 2; 3;::: Step sizes tk chosen to be fixed and small, or by backtracking line search If rf Lipschitz, gradient descent has convergence rate O(1/) Downsides: • Requires f differentiable next lecture • Can be slow to converge two lectures from now 2 Outline Today: crucial mathematical underpinnings! • Subgradients • Examples • Subgradient rules • Optimality characterizations 3 Subgradients Remember that for convex and differentiable f, f(y) ≥ f(x) + rf(x)T (y − x) for all x; y I.e., linear approximation always underestimates f n A subgradient of a convex function f at x is any g 2 R such that f(y) ≥ f(x) + gT (y − x) for all y • Always exists • If f differentiable at x, then g = rf(x) uniquely • Actually, same definition works for nonconvex f (however, subgradients need not exist) 4 Examples of subgradients Consider f : R ! R, f(x) = jxj 2.0 1.5 1.0 f(x) 0.5 0.0 −0.5 −2 −1 0 1 2 x • For x 6= 0, unique subgradient g = sign(x) • For x = 0, subgradient g is any element of [−1; 1] 5 n Consider f : R ! R, f(x) = kxk2 f(x) x2 x1 • For x 6= 0, unique subgradient g = x=kxk2 • For x = 0, subgradient g is any element of fz : kzk2 ≤ 1g 6 n Consider f : R ! R, f(x) = kxk1 f(x) x2 x1 • For xi 6= 0, unique ith component gi = sign(xi) • For xi = 0, ith component gi is any element of [−1; 1] 7 n
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