Analyzing linear systems containing strict inequalities via evenly convex hulls

The evenly convex hull of a given set is the intersection of all the open halfspaces which contain such set (hence the convex hull is contained in the evenly convex hull). This paper deals with finite dimensional linear systems containing strict inequalities and (possibly) weak inequalities as well as equalities. The number of inequalities and equalities in these systems is arbitrary (possibly infinite). For such kind of systems a consistency theorem is provided and those strict inequalities (weak inequalities, equalities) which are satisfied for every solution of a given system are characterized. Such results are formulated in terms of the evenly convex hull of certain sets which depend on the coefficients of the system. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.