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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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20 Linear Optimization 349<br />

systems of linear inequalities. An algorithm for geometric Hilbert bases is due to<br />

Hirzebruch [507] <strong>and</strong> Jung [556].<br />

For references <strong>and</strong> detailed information, compare Schrijver [915] <strong>and</strong> Bertsimas<br />

<strong>and</strong> Weismantel [104].<br />

Geometric Hilbert Bases<br />

A (geometric) Hilbert basis of a polyhedral convex cone C in E d with apex o is a<br />

set of vectors {a1,...,am} in C such that each integer vector in C is an integer linear<br />

combination of a1,...,am. Of particular interest are integer (geometric) Hilbert<br />

bases, that is, Hilbert bases consisting of integer vectors.<br />

The Geometric Hilbert Basis Theorem<br />

Old results of Gordan [387] <strong>and</strong> van der Corput [225] on systems of linear equations<br />

can be formulated as follows.<br />

Theorem 20.4. Let C be a pointed rational polyhedral convex cone in E d with<br />

apex o. Then C has an integer Hilbert basis. If C is pointed, it has a unique minimal<br />

(with respect to inclusion) integer Hilbert basis.<br />

Proof. Existence: Let C = pos{q1,...,qn} where the qi are rational vectors. We<br />

may suppose that qi ∈ Z d . We prove the following:<br />

(1) Let {a1,...,am} = � λ1q1 + ··· + λnqn : 0 ≤ λi ≤ 1 � ∩ Z d . Then<br />

{a1,...,am} is an integer Hilbert basis of C <strong>and</strong> C = pos{a1,...,am}.<br />

Since C = pos{q1,...,qn} <strong>and</strong> {q1,...,qn} ⊆{a1,...,am} ⊆C, clearly C =<br />

pos{a1,...,am}. To see that {a1,...,am} is an integer Hilbert basis of C, let<br />

u ∈ C ∩ Z d . Since C = pos{q1,...,qn}, there are µ1,...,µn ≥ 0 such that<br />

u = µ1q1 +···+µnqn. Then<br />

u −⌊µ1⌋q1 −···−⌊µn⌋qn = (µ1 −⌊µ1⌋)q1 +···+(µn −⌊µn⌋)qn ∈ C ∩ Z d .<br />

The vector (µ1 −⌊µ1⌋)q1 +···+(µn −⌊µn⌋)qn thus occurs among a1,...,am.<br />

Since the q1,...,qn also occur among the a1,...,am, we see that u is a non-negative<br />

integer linear combination of a1,...,am, concluding the proof of (1).<br />

Uniqueness: Let C be pointed. We will show that<br />

(2) B = � a ∈ C ∩ Z d \{o} :a is not a sum of vectors in C ∩ Z d \{o} �<br />

is the unique minimal Hilbert basis of C.<br />

Clearly, B is contained in any Hilbert basis of C. Since the Hilbert basis in (1) is<br />

finite, B is also finite. B is integer. Thus, to finish the proof of (2), we have to show<br />

that B is a Hilbert basis of C. Since C is pointed, o is an extreme point <strong>and</strong> thus a<br />

vertex of C. Thus there is a support hyperplane {x : cx = 0} of C at o which meets<br />

C only at o. We may assume that cx > 0 for each x ∈ C \{o}. Suppose that there<br />

are vectors in C ∩ Z d \{o}, which are not non-negative integer linear combinations

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