1. A computer implemented method of adaptively adjusting an objective function providing a figure of merit for a proposed solution to a constraint problem with a processing device, comprising: determining a value for each penalty component of the objective function, each penalty component including a penalty term multiplied by a weight factor from a first set of weight factors, the objective function including at least two penalty components; determining a worst penalty component using the determined penalty component values, wherein the worst penalty component is one of the penalty components with the greatest value; and changing weight factors in a second set of weight factors that correspond to the determined worst penalty component and at least one other penalty component to create an adapted objective function such that the worst penalty component has increased emphasis.