We quantify the set of known exponent pairs
(
k
,
ℓ
)
(k, \ell )
and develop a framework to compute the optimal exponent pair for an arbitrary objective function. Applying this methodology, we make progress on several open problems, including bounds of the Riemann zeta-function
ζ
(
s
)
\zeta (s)
in the critical strip, estimates of the moments of
ζ
(
1
/
2
+
i
t
)
\zeta (1/2 + it)
and the generalised Dirichlet divisor problem.