{{Short description|Branch of optimization in applied mathematics}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2014}}

'''Continuous optimization''' is a branch of optimization in applied mathematics.<ref name="JeyakumarRubinov2006">{{cite book|author1=V. Jeyakumar|author2=Alexander M. Rubinov|title=Continuous Optimization: Current Trends and Modern Applications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QePsbLIwwEoC&q=%22Continuous+optimization%22|date=9 March 2006|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-0-387-26771-5}}</ref>

As opposed to discrete optimization, the variables used in the objective function are required to be continuous variables&mdash;that is, to be chosen from a set of real values between which there are no gaps (values from intervals of the real line). Because of this continuity assumption, continuous optimization allows the use of calculus techniques.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Mathematical optimization

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