Can a neural network be used to find a functions minimum(a)?
Neural networks are classifiers. They separate two classes of data elements. They learn this separation (usually) by preclassified data elements. Thus, I say: No, unless you do a major stretch beyond breakage.
I had been interested in neural networks for a bit and thought about using one in python for a light project that compares various minimization techniques in a time domain (which is fastest).
Then I realized I didn't even know if a NN is good for minimization. What do you think?