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squash(+Vars, ++Precision, ++lin/log)

Refines the interval of Vars by the squashing algorithm.
Vars
List of variables
Precision
Minimum required precision (float)
lin/log
Domain splitting method (lin or log)

Description

Use the squash algorithm on Vars. This is a deterministic reduction of the ranges of variables, done by searching for domain restrictions which cause failure, and then reducing the domain to the complement of that which caused the failure. This algorithm is appropriate when the problem has continuous solution ranges (where locate would return many adjacent solutions).

Precision is the minimum required precision, i.e. the maximum size of the resulting intervals. Note that the arc-propagation threshold (set by set_threshold/1), needs to be one or several orders of magnitude smaller than Precision, otherwise the solver may not be able to achieve the required precision.

The lin/log parameter guides the way domains are split. If it is set to lin then the split is in the arithmetic middle. If it is set to log, the split is such as to have the same number of floats to either side of the split. This is to take the logarithmic distribution of the floats into account.

If the ranges of variables at the start of the squashing algorithm are known not to span several orders of magnitude, the somewhat cheaper linear splitting may be used. In general, log splitting is recommended.

See Also

locate / 2, locate / 3, locate / 4, set_threshold / 1, get_threshold / 1