On the Combinatorial Aspects of Max–Algebra

Let a ⊕ b = max(a, b), a ⊗ b = a + b for a, b ∈ R := R ∪ {−∞}. By max-algebra we understand the analogue of linear algebra developed for the pair of operations (⊕,⊗) extended to matrices and vectors. Max-algebra, which has been studied for more than 40 years, is an attractive way of describing a class of nonlinear problems appearing for instance in machine-scheduling, information technology and discrete-event dynamic systems. This paper focuses on presenting a number of links between basic max-algebraic problems like systems of linear equations, eigenvalue-eigenvector problem, linear independence, regularity and characteristic polynomial on one hand and combinatorial or combinatorial optimization problems on the other hand. This indicates that max-algebra may be regarded as a linear-algebraic encoding of a class of combinatorial problems. The paper is intended for wider readership including researchers not familiar with max-algebra.