Solving Optimization Problems Using MATLAB GA toolbox-Part 1

The GA tool box of MATLAB is good in solving hard optimization problems. It can be run form (i) GUI (Graphical  User Interface) mode or(ii) Command line Mode.


GA A Different Introduction

Genetic Algorithm or GA is one of th basic and powerful heuristic optimization algorithms.If you read any material on this algorithm you can observe the following points.

• 1.It is working on the population dynamics.
• 2.It is searching form a set of solutions(population) .
• 3.It does not need the derivative or continuous solution search space.
• 4.It doing some probabilistic operations like Reproduction,Cross Over,Mutation on the old  population to produce a new population.

MATLAB GA Toolbox

This toolbox contains some matlab files which can do the above described actions.This can be run in two modes.The GA toolbox is written as a minimization tool. Maximization problems also can be done by converting the Maximization problem as minimization problem.

1.GUI Mode

2.Command line Mode

Steps For Solving Optimization Problem 


To use the GA toolbox you need not know anything about Ga and its dynamics. All you should know is some fundamentals about optimization or operation research and basic matlab commands.


1. Model the optimization problem as a unconstrained  minimization problem.

2. Write the unconstrained minimization problem  as matlab function file.
3. Run the matalb ga tool box in a command line mode or GUI mode.




I am giving one example in GUI .It s problem of minimizing a  two variable quadratic function subject to a linear equality constraint..Just click on the figure to enlarge the figure.

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