In branch and bound algorithms in constrained global optimization, a sharp upper bound on the global optimum is important for the overall efficiency of the branch and bound process. Software to find local optimizers, using floating point arithmetic, often computes an approximately feasible point...

In previous work, we, and also Epperly and Pistikopoulos, proposed an analysis of general nonlinear programs that identified certain variables as convex, not ever needing subdivision, and non-convex, or possibly needing subdivision in branch and bound algorithms. We proposed a specific...