# How to build a list of constraints for NMinimize

Let's say I have aset = {-1, 0, 2}. I would like to create a variable Var that takes values from that set, i.e. var = -1 or var = 0 or var = 2. What I'm trying to do is using the variable in NMinimize as a constraint. A simple example could be as follow:

NMinimize[{a + 1, var == -1 || var == 0 || var == 2, a > 0}, a]


The result is, obviously:

{1., {a -> 0.}}


But if the set is much larger I can't write down constraints for each element. Is there a more efficient way to do this?

### Edit

Both answers work (see comments). However, if I change the code a bit,

set = {b^2, b^2 + 1, b^2 - 1};
NMinimize[{a + 1, Or @@ (a == # & /@ set)}, {a, b}]


gives

{-7.45058*10^-9, {a -> -1., b -> -7.43726*10^-9}}


while

NMinimize[{a + 1, Times @@ ((a - #)& @ set) == 0}, {a, b}]


gives

{-3.53148*10^-9, {a -> -1., b -> -7.29659*10^-9}}


Both results are satisfactorily correct. However I notice that the second result is a little bit more accurate.

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Try something like NMinimize[{a + 1, {Or @@ (a == # & /@ {-1, 0, 2}) && a > 0}}, a]? –  kglr Aug 15 '14 at 21:37
Or NMinimize[{a + 1, Times @@ ((a - #) &@{-1, 0, 2}) == 0}, a] –  belisarius Aug 15 '14 at 21:44
Exactly what I need, thank you. –  Oxy Aug 15 '14 at 21:59

Any of the following, taken from the comments, will work.

NMinimize[{a + 1, {Or @@ (a == #& /@ {-1, 0, 2}) && a > 0}}, a]


NMinimize[{a + 1, Times @@ ((a - #)& @ {-1, 0, 2}) == 0}, a]


Another possibility:

NMinimize[{a + 1, Or @@ Thread[a == {-1, 0, 2}] && a > 0}, a]
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