The book is intended for graduate students and researchers in mathematics, computer science, and operational research. The book presents a new derivative-free optimization method/algorithm based on randomly generated trial points in specified domains and where the best ones are selected at each iteration by using a number of rules. This method is different from many other well established methods presented in the literature and proves to be competitive for solving many unconstrained optimization problems with different structures and complexities, with a relative large number of variables. Intensive numerical experiments with 140 unconstrained optimization problems, with up to 500 variables, have shown that this approach is efficient and robust.

Structured into 4 chapters, Chapter 1 is introductory. Chapter 2 is dedicated to presenting a two level derivative-free random search method for unconstrained optimization. It is assumed that the minimizing function is continuous, lower bounded and its minimum value is known. Chapter 3 proves the convergence of the algorithm. In Chapter 4, the numerical performances of the algorithm are shown for solving 140 unconstrained optimization problems, out of which 16 are real applications. This shows that the optimization process has two phases: the reduction phase and the stalling one. Finally, the performances of the algorithm for solving a number of 30 large-scale unconstrained optimization problems up to 500 variables are presented. These numerical results show that this approach based on the two level random search method for unconstrained optimization is able to solve a large diversity of problems with different structures and complexities.

There are a number of open problems which refer to the following aspects: the selection of the number of trial or the number of the local trial points, the selection of the bounds of the domains where the trial points and the local trial points are randomly generated and a criterion for initiating the line search.

Neculai Andrei holds a position at the Center for Advanced Modeling and Optimization at the Academy of Romanian Scientists in Bucharest, Romania. Dr. Andreis areas of interest include mathematical modeling, linear programming, nonlinear optimization, high performance computing, and numerical methods in mathematical programming. In addition to this present volume, Neculai Andrei has published several books with Springer including Nonlinear Conjugate Gradient Methods for Unconstrained Optimization (2020),Continuous Nonlinear Optimization for Engineering Applications in GAMS Technology (2017), and Nonlinear Optimization Applications Using the GAMS Technology (2013).

1. Introduction.- 2. A Derivative-free Two Level Random Search Method for Unconstrained Optimization.- 3. Convergence of the Algorithm.- 4. Numerical Results.- 5. Conclusions.- Annex A. List of Applications.- Annex B. List of Test Functions.- Annex C. Detailed Results for 30 Large-Scale Problems.- Annex D. Detailed Results for 140 Problems.