Data clustering

A method may include obtaining a first matrix that represents data in a data set and obtaining a number of clusters into which the data is to be grouped. The method may further include constructing a second matrix using the first matrix and the number of clusters. The second matrix may represent a formulation of a first optimization problem in a framework of a second optimization problem. The method may further include solving the second optimization problem using the second matrix to generate a solution of the second optimization problem and mapping the solution of the second optimization problem into a first solution matrix that represents a solution of the first optimization problem. The method may further include grouping the data into multiple data clusters using the first solution matrix. A number of the multiple data clusters may be equal to the number of clusters.