Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-computer-science-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2019/algorithms/2/c/solution

First suppose the stated nonnegative vectors exist. If , multiply by and by . Since and , this gives the contradiction
Thus the certificate implies .
For the converse, put
A common feasible point exists exactly when , . Introducing a nonnegative vector of slack variables makes this equivalent to
If this system is infeasible, the nonnegative-equations version of Farkas' lemma supplies an unrestricted vector such that
Split according to the original two blocks of inequalities. The three conditions become , and , exactly the desired certificate. Both directions are proved. The role of is essential: it is why the combined normal need only be nonnegative rather than zero.[ref]

New to topics? Read the docs here!