How to optimize the linear coefficients for numpy arrays in a maximization function? - optimization

Question

I have to optimize the coefficients for three numpy arrays which maximizes my evaluation function.
I have a target array called train['target'] and three predictions arrays named array1, array2 and array3.
I want to put the best linear coefficients i.e., x,y,z for these three arrays which will maximize the function
roc_aoc_curve(train['target'], xarray1 + yarray2 +z*array3)
the above function would be maximum when prediction is closer to the target.
i.e, xarray1 + yarray2 + z*array3 should be closer to train['target'].
The range of x,y,z >=0 and x,y,z <= 1
Basically I am trying to put the weights x,y,z for each of the three arrays which would make the function
xarray1 + yarray2 +z*array3 closer to the train['target']
Any help in getting this would be appreciated.
I used pulp.LpProblem('Giapetto', pulp.LpMaximize) to do the maximization. It works for normal numbers, integers etc, however failing while trying to do with arrays.
import numpy as np
import pulp
# create the LP object, set up as a maximization problem
prob = pulp.LpProblem('Giapetto', pulp.LpMaximize)
# set up decision variables
x = pulp.LpVariable('x', lowBound=0)
y = pulp.LpVariable('y', lowBound=0)
z = pulp.LpVariable('z', lowBound=0)
score = roc_auc_score(train['target'],x*array1+ y*array2 + z*array3)
prob += score
coef = x+y+z
prob += (coef==1)
# solve the LP using the default solver
optimization_result = prob.solve()
# make sure we got an optimal solution
assert optimization_result == pulp.LpStatusOptimal
# display the results
for var in (x, y,z):
print('Optimal weekly number of {} to produce: {:1.0f}'.format(var.name, var.value()))
Getting error at the line
score = roc_auc_score(train['target'],x*array1+ y*array2 + z*array3)
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for /: 'int' and 'LpVariable'
Can't progress beyond this line when using arrays. Not sure if my approach is correct. Any help in optimizing the function would be appreciated.

Answer 1

When you add sums of array elements to a PuLP model, you have to use built-in PuLP constructs like lpSum to do it -- you can't just add arrays together (as you discovered).
So your score definition should look something like this:
score = pulp.lpSum([train['target'][i] - (x * array1[i] + y * array2[i] + z * array3[i]) for i in arr_ind])
A few notes about this:
[+] You didn't provide the definition of roc_auc_score so I just pretended that it equals the sum of the element-wise difference between the target array and the weighted sum of the other 3 arrays.
[+] I suspect your actual calculation for roc_auc_score is nonlinear; more on this below.
[+] arr_ind is a list of the indices of the arrays, which I created like this:
# build array index
arr_ind = range(len(array1))
[+] You also didn't include the arrays, so I created them like this:
array1 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
array2 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
array3 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
train = {}
train['target'] = np.ones((10, 1))
Here is my complete code, which compiles and executes, though I'm sure it doesn't give you the result you are hoping for, since I just guessed about target and roc_auc_score:
import numpy as np
import pulp
# create the LP object, set up as a maximization problem
prob = pulp.LpProblem('Giapetto', pulp.LpMaximize)
# dummy arrays since arrays weren't in OP code
array1 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
array2 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
array3 = np.random.rand(10, 1)
# build array index
arr_ind = range(len(array1))
# set up decision variables
x = pulp.LpVariable('x', lowBound=0)
y = pulp.LpVariable('y', lowBound=0)
z = pulp.LpVariable('z', lowBound=0)
# dummy roc_auc_score since roc_auc_score wasn't in OP code
train = {}
train['target'] = np.ones((10, 1))
score = pulp.lpSum([train['target'][i] - (x * array1[i] + y * array2[i] + z * array3[i]) for i in arr_ind])
prob += score
coef = x + y + z
prob += coef == 1
# solve the LP using the default solver
optimization_result = prob.solve()
# make sure we got an optimal solution
assert optimization_result == pulp.LpStatusOptimal
# display the results
for var in (x, y,z):
print('Optimal weekly number of {} to produce: {:1.0f}'.format(var.name, var.value()))
Output:
Optimal weekly number of x to produce: 0
Optimal weekly number of y to produce: 0
Optimal weekly number of z to produce: 1
Process finished with exit code 0
Now, if your roc_auc_score function is nonlinear, you will have additional troubles. I would encourage you to try to formulate the score in a way that is linear, possibly using additional variables (for example, if you want the score to be an absolute value).