An apparatus includes: a communication circuit configured to communicate with a search circuit configured to search for a solution minimizing a value of an objective function; and a processing circuit configured to: cause the search circuit to execute the search by using each of a first state and a second state as a starting point, the search being configured to change a value of a predetermined external parameter affecting an increase or decrease in the value of the objective function in a direction of promoting an increase in the value of the objective function; acquire a first state group obtained using the first state and a second state group obtained using the second state; determine a third state among unsearched states by using the first state group and the second state group; and cause the search circuit to execute the search by using the third state as the starting point.