Ms. M.K.A. Ariyaratne (Department of Computer Science), Dr. T.G.I. Fernando (Department of Computer Science), and Retired Senior Professor Sunethra Weerakoon (Department of Mathematics) published a journal paper titled “Solving systems of nonlinear equations using a modified firefly algorithm (MODFA)” at the Journal of Swarm and Evolutionary Computation. It is a leading journal in the field of Swarm and Evolutionary Computing and a Science Citation Index Expanded journal.

Details of the publication:

Ariyaratne, M.K.A., Fernando, T.G.I., & Weerakoon, S. (2019). Solving systems of nonlinear equations using a modified firefly algorithm (MODFA). Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 48, 72–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.swevo.2019.03.010 [Certificate of Publication]

Abstract: Most numerical methods that are being used to solve systems of nonlinear equations require the differentiability of the functions and acceptable initial guesses. However, some optimization techniques have overcome these problems, but they are unable to provide more than one root approximation simultaneously. In this paper, we present a modified firefly algorithm treating the problem as an optimization problem, which is capable of giving multiple root approximations simultaneously within a reasonable state space. The new method does not concern initial guesses, differentiability and even the continuity of the functions. Results obtained are encouraging, giving sufficient evidence that the algorithm works well. We further illustrate the viability of our method using benchmark systems found in the literature.