The existence of a strongly polynomial time simplex algorithm for linear programs

Abstract

It is well known that the most challenging question in optimization and discrete geometry is whether there is a strongly polynomial time simplex algorithm for linear programs (LPs). This paper gives a positive answer to this question by using the parameter analysis technique presented by us (arXiv:2006.08104). We show that there is a simplex algorithm whose number of pivoting steps does not exceed the number of variables of a LP problem.