This is a particular type of seriation problem for which optimal solutions can typically be obtained for rather large problems. Depending on computer RAM, Dynamic programming can provide an optimal solution for problems up to about 25x25 (512MB or RAM). Branch-and-bound can provide guaranteed optimal solutions for even larger problems and is not encumbered by memory limitations. However, the branch-and-bound approach is more sensitive to the data entries in the matrix and can require more CPU time. I've also been able to solve some rather large problems using integer programming. There are a number of references that focus on seriation problems related to the dominance index you've mentioned, anti-Robinson gradient indices, and least-squares unidimensional scaling. All of these are amenable to optimal solution via branch-and-bound or dynamic programming. I can send you some fortran programs if you like. Citations: Hubert, Arabie, & Meulman (2001), Combinatorial Data Analysis: Optimization by Dynamic Programming, SIAM. Brusco & Stahl (in press), Branch-and-Bound Applications in Combinatorial Data Analysis, Springer. Hubert & Golledge (1981), Psychometrika - dynamic programming Brusco & Stahl (2001), Psychometrika, pp. 5-24 - dynamic programming Brusco (2002) Psychometrika, pp. 459-471 - branch and bound (anti-Robinson gradients) Mike At 06:53 PM 6/29/2005 +0200, you wrote: >If your matrix can be reorganize as an Robinson matrix, you have a lot of >good algorithms as I described in the manual of PermutMatrix, a software >for seriation and clustering (http://www.lirmm.fr/~caraux/PermutMatrix/). >I also give some references. >For the general case, I think you have to perform every reordering if you >want an exact solution. > >Gilles > > >Le 18:18 29/06/2005, vous avez écrit: > >Mighty mathematicians we have a question. > > > >We have small matrices of integers that we need to reorder so that the sum > >of the diagonal is maximum. > > > >These matrices are relatively small (say 10x10 max) so we can brute force > >our way by performing every reordering, but would rather not. > > > >Can anyone help we biostatisticians with an algorithm or theorem? > > > > > >Bill > >--- > > > > Biostatistics Consulting Center > > http://ilya.wustl.edu/~shannon/bcc_announcement.pdf > > > > > >William D. Shannon, Ph.D. > > > >Associate Professor of Biostatistics in Medicine > >Division of General Medical Sciences and Biostatistics > > > >Washington University School of Medicine > >Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid > >St. Louis, MO 63110 > > > >Phone: 314-454-8356 > >Fax: 314-454-5113 > >e-mail: [log in to unmask] > >web page: http://ilya.wustl.edu/~shannon Michael J. Brusco, Marketing Department, College of Business, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1110. Voice: (850)644-6512, FAX: (850)644-4098, email: [log in to unmask]