Minimizing Differences of Convex Functions and Applications to Facility Location and Clustering

Abstract: In this paper we develop algorithms to solve generalized weighted Fermat-Torricelli problems with positive and negative weights and multifacility location problems involving distances generated by Minkowski gauges. We also introduce a new model of clustering based on squared distances to convex sets. Using the Nesterov smoothing technique and an algorithm for minimizing differences of convex functions called the DCA introduced by Tao and An, we develop effective algorithms for solving these problems.