.. _method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function:

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merit_function
""""""""""""""


Balance goals of reducing objective function and satisfying constraints


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1

   method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-el_bakry
   method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-argaez_tapia
   method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-van_shanno


**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* None

- *Default:* argaez_tapia


**Child Keywords:**

+-------------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------+
| Required/Optional       | Description of     | Dakota Keyword     | Dakota Keyword Description                  |
|                         | Group              |                    |                                             |
+=========================+====================+====================+=============================================+
| Required (Choose One)   | Merit Function     | `el_bakry`__       | El-Bakry merit function                     |
|                         |                    +--------------------+---------------------------------------------+
|                         |                    | `argaez_tapia`__   | The merit function by Tapia and Argaez      |
|                         |                    +--------------------+---------------------------------------------+
|                         |                    | `van_shanno`__     | The merit function by Vanderbei and Shanno  |
+-------------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------+

.. __: method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-el_bakry.html
__ method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-argaez_tapia.html
__ method-optpp_g_newton-merit_function-van_shanno.html



**Description**


A ``merit_function`` is a function in constrained optimization that
attempts to provide joint progress toward reducing the objective
function and satisfying the constraints.