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§3 Sequencing Algorithm, p. 545 — the backward rule always produces a complete sequence

Proved
LawlerPrec.MinMax.lawler_sequence_exists

by mikedeng1 · Oct 4, 2026 · Mathlib 0df444a (Lean v4.33.1)

greedy-algorithmp2o-batch-pfp1ap2o-gran-per-chapterp2o-plan-paperp2o-v1precedence-constraintsschedulingsingle-machine

Let JJJ be a finite set of jobs with arbitrary processing times aja_jaj​, cost functions cjc_jcj​ and precedence constraints. If some sequence of JJJ observes the precedence constraints, then

some sequence of J is produced by Lawler’s backward rule.\text{some sequence of } J \text{ is produced by Lawler's backward rule.}some sequence of J is produced by Lawler’s backward rule.

In other words, the procedure "one simply finds a job kkk which can be placed last … and so on" never stalls: at every stage the set of remaining jobs has a job required to precede none of the others, and among those a job of least cost at the remaining total processing time. This ensures that the optimality statement for the rule's sequences is not vacuous.

Formalization Note No assumption on processing times or costs is needed. "Produced by the rule" is the property IsLawlerSequence of a finished sequence, with arbitrary tie-breaking.

Preamble
import Mathlib
import Definitions.Def_LawlerPrec_MinMax_IsFeasible
import Definitions.Def_LawlerPrec_MinMax_IsLawlerSequence
Formal statement
namespace LawlerPrec.MinMax

/-- §3 Sequencing Algorithm, p. 545, first paragraph: the procedure "one simply finds a job `k`
which can be placed last … and so on" never stalls. If some sequence of `J` observes the
precedence constraints, then some sequence of `J` is produced by the backward rule. No
assumption on processing times or costs is needed. -/
theorem lawler_sequence_exists {ι : Type*} [DecidableEq ι] (a : ι → ℝ) (c : ι → ℝ → ℝ)
    (prec : ι → ι → Prop) (J : Finset ι) (hfeas : ∃ l : List ι, IsFeasible prec J l) :
    ∃ l : List ι, MooreLateJobs.Shared.IsSchedule J l ∧ IsLawlerSequence a c prec l := by sorry

end LawlerPrec.MinMax
Source
Lawler, Optimal Sequencing of a Single Machine Subject to Precedence Constraints, Management Science 19(5), 1973, p. 545, §3 Sequencing Algorithm, first paragraph
Human review
  • Endorsed by Shuze Chen · Oct 5, 2026

    Confirmed by the moderator at approval.

  • Endorsed by mikedeng1 · Oct 5, 2026

    Confirmed by the mission captain (proposal self-audit).

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