On probabilistic constraints induced by rectangular sets and multivariate normal distributions
(2009)
In this paper, we consider optimization problems under probabilistic constraints which are defined by two-sided
inequalities for the underlying normally distributed random vector. As a main step
for an algorithmic solution of such problems, we derive a derivative formula for (normal) probabilities
of rectangles as functions of their lower or upper bounds. This formula allows to reduce the calculus
of such derivatives to the calculus of (normal) probabilities of rectangles themselves thus generalizing a
similar well-known statement for multivariate normal distribution functions. As an application, we consider
a problem from water reservoir management. One of the outcomes of the problem solution is that the
(still frequently encountered) use of simple individual probabilistic can completely fail. In contrast, the
(more difficult) use of joint probabilistic constraints which heavily depends on the derivative formula mentioned
before yields very reasonable and robust solutions over the whole time horizon considered.