Building expressions on integer variables

How to build and use expressions?

Choco-solver offers the possibility to combine integer variables into an expression.

Expressions with IntVar

Three types of expressions can be defined with IntVar : arithmetic, logical and relational.

Arithmetic expressions

First, any IntVar is an arithmetic expression itself.

Based on one variable x, an arithmetic expression can be built with the following operators :

• x.neg(): returns $-x$,
• x.abs(): returns $|x|$,
• x.sqr(): returns $x^2$,
• x.add(y1, y2, ...): returns $x+y_1+y_2+\ldots$,
• x.sub(y)returns $x - y$,
• x.mul(y1, y2, ...): returns $x\times y_1\times y_2\times \ldots$,
• x.div(y): returns $\frac{x}{y}$, as an Euclidean division, rounding towars $0$,
• x.mod(y): returns $x \mod y$,
• x.pow(y): returns $x^y$,
• x.min(y): returns $\min(x,y)$,
• x.max(y): returns $\max(x,y)$,
• x.dist(y): returns $|x - y|$.

Note that y can be either an integer or an arithemic expression.

An arithmetic expression can be turned into an IntVar by calling the intVar() method on it. If necessary, it creates intermediary variable and posts intermediary constraints then returns the resulting variable.

IntVar x = model.intVar(1, 5);
IntVar y = model.intVar(1, 5);
// z = min((x+5)%3, y^2);


Relational expressions

Based on an arithmetic expression x, a relational expression can be built using the following operators:

• x.lt(y): states that $x < y$,
• x.le(y): states that $x \leq y$,
• x.gt(y): states that $x > y$,
• x.ge(y): states that $x \geq y$,
• x.ne(y): states that $x \neq y$,
• x.eq(y): states that $x = y$.

Note that y can be either an integer or an arithemic expression.

A relational expression can be posted into the model or be turned into a Boolean variable.

As a decomposition

Calling decompose() on a relation expression will return a Constraint object. It must be then posted or reified.

The expression forms a tree structure where nodes are either expressions (including variables) and branches are operators. Leaves are either an int or IntVar. When decomposed, an analysis of the tree structure is done, starting from leaves. A call to this method creates additional variables and posts additional constraints.

IntVar x = model.intVar(0, 5);
IntVar y = model.intVar(0, 5);
x.ge(y).decompose().post();


Note that post() can be directly called from a relation expression and stands for .decompose().post();

As a Table constraint

Alternatively, tuples can be extracted from a relation expression and a Table constraint be posted. This is achieved calling the extension() method which returns a Constraint object (that needs to be posted).

IntVar x = model.intVar(0, 5);
IntVar y = model.intVar(0, 5);
x.ge(y).extension().post();


As a Boolean variable

Any relation expression can be turned into a BoolVar by calling the boolVar() method. The resulting Boolean variable indicates whether or not the relationship holds.

IntVar x = model.intVar(0, 5);
IntVar y = model.intVar(0, 5);
BoolVar b = x.gt(y).boolVar();


Logical expressions

First, any logical expression is a relation expression itself.

Based on an relational expression r, a logical expression can be built using the following operators:

• r.and(p1,p2,...) : returns $(r \land p_1 \land p_2 \land \dots)$,
• r.or(p1,p2,...): returns $(r \lor p_1 \lor p_2 \lor \dots)$,
• r.xor(p1,p2,...): returns $(r \oplus p_1 \oplus p_2 \oplus \dots)$,
• r.imp(p): returns $(r \Rightarrow p)$,
• r.iff(p1,p2,...): returns $(r \Leftrightarrow p_1 \Leftrightarrow p_2 \Leftrightarrow \dots)$,
• r.not(): returns $(\neg r)$,
• r.ift(y1,y2): returns $y_1$ if $r$ is true, returns $y_2$ otherwise.

Note that pi is relational expression and yi can be either an integer or an arithemic expression.

IntVar x = model.intVar(0, 5);
IntVar y = model.intVar(0, 5);
// (x = y + 1) ==> (x + 2 < 6)


Expressions with RealVar

Two types of expressions can be defined with RealVar : arithmetic and relational.

Arithmetic expressions

First any RealVar is an arithmetic expression itself.

Based on one variable x, an arithmetic expression can be built with the following operators :

• x.neg(): returns $-x$,
• x.abs(): returns $|x|$,
• x.add(y): returns $x+y$,
• x.sub(y)returns $x - y$,
• x.mul(y): returns $x\times y$,
• x.div(y): returns $\frac{x}{y}$,
• x.pow(y): returns $x^y$,
• x.min(y): returns $\min(x,y)$,
• x.max(y): returns $\max(x,y)$,
• x.atan2(y): returns $\operatorname{atan2}{(x,y)}$,
• x.exp(): returns $e^x$,
• x.ln(): returns $\ln{(x)}$,
• x.sqr(): returns $x^2$,
• x.sqrt(): returns $\sqrt{x}$,
• x.cub(): returns $x^3$,
• x.cbrt(): returns $\sqrt[3]{x}$,
• x.cos(): returns $\cos{(x)}$,
• x.sin(): returns $\sin{(x)}$,
• x.tan(): returns $\tan{(x)}$,
• x.acos(): returns $\arccos{(x)}$,
• x.asin(): returns $\arcsin{(x)}$,
• x.atan(): returns $\arctan{(x)}$,
• x.cosh(): returns $\cosh{(x)}$,
• x.sinh(): returns $\sinh{(x)}$,
• x.tanh(): returns $\tanh{(x)}$,
• x.acosh(): returns $\operatorname{acosh}{(x)}$,
• x.asinh(): returns $\operatorname{asinh}{(x)}$,
• x.atanh(): returns $\operatorname{atanh}{(x)}$,

Note that y can be either a double or an arithemic expression.

An arithmetic expression can be turned into a RealVar by calling the realVar(prec) method on it. Here, prec is the precision of the variable to return. If necessary, it creates intermediary variable and posts intermediary constraints then returns the resulting variable.

double p = 0.01d;
RealVar x = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
RealVar y = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
// z = x^(y-2)
RealVar z = x.pow(y.sub(2))).realVar(p);


Relational expressions

Based on an arithmetic expression x, a relational expression can be built using the following operators:

• x.lt(y): states that $x < y$,
• x.le(y): states that $x \leq y$,
• x.gt(y): states that $x > y$,
• x.ge(y): states that $x \geq y$,
• x.eq(y): states that $x = y$.

Note that y can be either an double or an arithemic expression.

A relational expression can be posted into the model as an equation or added to an Ibex instance.

As an equation

Calling equation() on a relation expression will return a Constraint object that embeds a propagator using HC4 algorithm for filtering values based on the equation expressed. It must be then posted or reified. The constraint stores the expression as an internal variable.

A call to this method does not create additional variables and returns a single constraint.

double p = 0.01d;
RealVar x = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
RealVar y = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
// x / (y-2)
x.div(y.sub(2))).equation().post();


Into Ibex

Alternatively, an expression can be added Ibex. This is achieved calling the ibex(prec) method which returns a Constraint object where prec denotes the precision. It must be then posted or reified.

double p = 0.01d;
RealVar x = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
RealVar y = model.realVar(1, 5, p);
// x / (y-2)
x.div(y.sub(2))).ibex(p).post();