Examples and Applications on Genetic Algorithms

Abstract

The chapter discusses several examples and applications based on genetic algorithms with problem definitions, suitable encoding schemes, applications of genetic operators, and the design of fitness functions with the overall evolution process. All the examples discussed in the chapter accompany the necessary illustrations and data for a better understanding and effective representation of the problems and solutions. Initial examples in the chapter include function optimization with single and multiple variables. Here, the real-life examples such as the use of the genetic algorithm in profit and investment, maximizing the number of a digit/character in a sentence, multivariable function optimization, etc. are demonstrated with solutions besides various numerical examples. Problems that fall in the routine but expert/intelligent category such as best student selection, mobile selection (with different encodings), and car selection are also discussed in this chapter. These problems require specific encoding and application-specific fitness functions, which are discussed in detail with illustrations. Tricks and tactics of problem-solving are also described here e.g. how to solve a minimization problem that comes in the disguise of maximization.