In mathematical optimization and related fields, relaxation is a modeling strategy. A relaxation is an approximation of a difficult problem by a nearby problem that is easier to solve. A solution of the relaxed problem provides information about the original problem.
Bibliography
“Relaxation (Approximation).” 2022. Wikipedia, January. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Relaxation_(approximation)&oldid=1065520936.