Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2603.00075

A Surface-Based Formulation of the Traveling Salesman Problem

Yılmaz Arslanoğlu
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We present an exact formulation of the symmetric Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) that replaces the classical edge-selection view with a surface-building approach. Instead of selecting edges to form a cycle, the model selects a set of connected triangles where the boundary of the resulting surface forms the tour. This method yields a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation where a tree constraint enforces global connectivity, while local connectivity at each vertex is guaranteed via Euler characteristic constraints, replacing the need for subtour elimination. The formulation is exact when applied to the complete set of all triangles, despite being computationally intractable for all but the smallest instances. In practice, it provides a compact and effective heuristic when restricted to a sparse candidate set such as Delaunay triangulation.

Explore related subjects

math.GM

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Yılmaz Arslanoğlu. 2026-02-12. A Surface-Based Formulation of the Traveling Salesman Problem. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00075

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

A Proof of Liu's Conjecture on the Fundamental Triangle Inequality

Let $a,b,c$ be the side lengths of a triangle, and let $R$ and $r$ denote its circumradius and inradius, respectively. Liu proposed the conjecture \[ \sum_{\text{cyc}} \left(\frac{a(b+c-a)}{bc}\right)^k \ge 2+\left(\frac{2r}{R}\right)^k,\qquad k>1, \] with the reverse inequality for $k<1$. We prove this conjecture by reducing it to an algebraic inequality for three positive variables with prescribed sum and product. We also determine the equality cases.

math.GM↗
arXiv2026

A quadratic critical-value conjecture for the fifth Bessel moment

We conjecture an explicit evaluation of the pure fifth Bessel moment $\int_0^\infty K_0(t)^5\,dt$ as a quadratic expression in the critical value $L(f,2)$ of the weight-three, level-60 newform $f$ (LMFDB orbit 60.3.b.a) identified in the twisted fifth-moment modularity theorem of Lim, Tu and Yu, with coefficients in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$ and the square taken before the real and imaginary parts. Directed interval computations, using no stored Bessel or $L$-values, bound the absolute discrepancy by $10^{-358}$. We prove three exact modular identities for $f$: the Petersson-norm formula $\langle f,f\rangle_{60} = \frac{3(5-\sqrt{5})}{2π^4}|L(f,2)|^2$, the coefficient-conjugation relation $L(f^σ,2) = κL(f,2)$ with explicit $κ\in \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5},i)$, and the twisted symmetric-square evaluation $L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,2) = \sqrt{15}\,π^2 \langle f,f\rangle_{60}$, together with $L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,3) = π^4\langle f,f\rangle_{60}/8$, in the full Euler-factor normalization of Lim, Tu and Yu. The last identity shows that the companion norm conjecture $D_{5,\mathrm{odd}} = \frac{3\sqrt{15}(5-\sqrt{5})}{2}|L(f,2)|^2$ is equivalent to the symmetric-square conjecture $D_{5,\mathrm{odd}} = π^2 L(χ_{-4}\mathrm{Sym}^2 f,2)$ of Lim, Tu and Yu, while the exact relation $D_{5,\mathrm{even}} = π^2 D_{5,\mathrm{odd}}/(2\sqrt{15})$ follows from Chuang's period formulas. Every Bessel-to-modular equality, including the individual-period formula, remains conjectural. Complete proofs, exact rational certificates and verification programs are included as ancillary files.

math.GM↗