(Theory of Optimisation)

(a) For a numerical optimisation to function correctly it is important that a fully working simulation is provided. Describe the properties of this simulation without reference to a specific optimisation problem and infer what would happen to the optimisation process if the simulation was malfunctioning. (10 marks)

(b) Given a simulation, explain how this is used by a numerical optimisation algorithm to iteratively find the global optimum. (10 marks)