Questions tagged [circuit-complexity]

Circuit complexity is the study of resource-bounded circuits and the functions computed by such circuits.

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Complexity of approximating boolean functions with circuits

Let $f$ be a boolean function on $n$ variables - say we want to find the smallest circuit $C$ where $C(x)=f(x)$ for all but an $\epsilon$ fraction of inputs $x \in \{0,1\}^n$. What is known about the ...
2 votes
0 answers
67 views

Does advice reduce depth?

Specifically I'm thinking about NC$^1$/poly and NC$^1$/rpoly (randomized advice). Are there any statements like "If $\{C_n\}$ is a family of NC$^1$/(r)poly circuits with depth $C\log n$, then ...
3 votes
1 answer
121 views

$\mathrm{AC}^0$ upper bound for Hamming weight

Consider Theorem 11 of this paper (S. Aaronson, BQP and the Polynomial Hierarchy), which says: Any depth $d$ circuit that accepts all $n$ bit strings of Hamming weight $\frac{n}{2} + 1$ and rejects ...
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Complexity of Polynomial Division

Let $P(x)$ be a univariate polynomial with integer coefficients where both coefficients and degrees are in binary and let $q(x)$ be another polynomial also with integer coefficients where the degrees ...
5 votes
1 answer
166 views

$AC^0$[subexp] vs. NC

My question is about the possibility of trading size for depth in circuits. Under what conditions is it true (or, plausible) that $AC^0[2^{n^\delta}] \subseteq NC^i$ for some constants $\delta < 1, ...
18 votes
2 answers
1k views

Status on circuit lower bounds for polylog-bounded depth circuits

Bounded depth circuit complexity is one of the main areas of research within circuit complexity theory. This topic has origins in results like "the parity function is not in $AC^{0}$" and "the mod $p$ ...
23 votes
4 answers
1k views

Monotone arithmetic circuits

The state of our knowledge about general arithmetic circuits seems to be similar to the state of our knowledge about Boolean circuits, i.e. we don't have good lower-bounds. On the other hand we have ...
25 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why is HAMILTONIAN CYCLE so different from PERMANENT?

A polynomial $f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ is a monotone projection of a polynomial $g(y_1,\ldots,y_m)$ if $m$ = poly$(n)$, and there is an assignment $\pi:\{y_1,\ldots,y_m\}\to\{x_1,\ldots,x_n, 0,1\}$ such ...
14 votes
2 answers
530 views

OR-circuit complexity of a dense linear operator

Consider the following simple monotone circuit model: each gate is just a binary OR. What is the complexity of a function $f(x)=Ax$ where $A$ is a Boolean $n \times n$ matrix with $O(n)$ 0's? Can it ...
10 votes
1 answer
234 views

Can exponential-size depth-2 $CC^0[m]$ circuits with generalized $MOD_m$ gates compute arbitrary functions from $Z/mZ$ to $Z/2Z$?

Terminology $CC^0[m]$ is the set of polynomial-sized, constant depth circuits consisting entirely of $MOD_m$ gates for some $m \geq 2$, where a $MOD_m$ gate outputs a 1 if and only if the sum of its ...
8 votes
1 answer
139 views

Construction of arbitrary functions with exponential-size $MODp \circ MODq$ circuits

It is mentioned in multiple papers [1], [2] that $MODp \circ MODq$ circuits for two distinct primes $p, q$ can compute arbitrary functions in exponential size. However, [1] provides no citation for ...
3 votes
0 answers
106 views

Do random functions have synchronous, alternating circuits with non-injective first layers?

After discussing in the comments, I think a clearer definition of the question is as follows: for a random function $f : \{0, 1\}^n \rightarrow \{0, 1\}$, what is the probability that there exists a ...
2 votes
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101 views

Recovering the inputs to Boolean circuits after partial evaluation

This question discusses Boolean Circuits and Boolean functions from $n>1$ inputs to one Boolean output. Notation: $\textit{arity}(\mathcal{C})=n$ if $\mathcal{C}$ takes $n$ inputs, similarly for ...
9 votes
1 answer
131 views

Proof of $DLOGTIME-CC^0 = MOD[<,bit]$

Let $CC^0[m]$ be the class of constant-depth, polynomial-sized circuits consisting entirely of $MOD_m$ gates, which put out $1$ iff the sum of their inputs $\equiv 0~(\textrm{mod}~m)$. In the same way ...
-1 votes
1 answer
89 views

Is finding the shortest consistent term to fill a missing line in a truth table still NP-hard?

I understand the logic minimization problem is NP-hard when given the onset, since the last step is equivalent to set cover optimization. If instead we are given a partial truth table, and we just ...
0 votes
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93 views

Useful primitives CPUs could provide, from TC0 (or NC1)

I just listened to XYZ talking about "How Universal Is the Idea of Numbers?", and bashing the concept as an accidental historical artifact. He suggested that totally different computational ...
3 votes
0 answers
121 views

Complete problems for $(NP\cap CoNP)/poly$ class and universal representations

It is conjectured that $NP\cap CoNP$ does not have a complete problem with respect to the polynomial-time many-to-one reductions. I would like to know the current knowledge about the nonuniform ...
4 votes
0 answers
219 views

What does width $4$ permutation branching program correspond to?

$L$ can be computed by a family of programs over $S_3$ of polynomial length if and only if $L$ can be computed by a family of $MOD3 ◦ MOD2$ circuits of polynomial size. $L$ can be computed by a family ...
5 votes
2 answers
414 views

Are there problems in $DTIME(n^k) - DTIME(n^{k-1})$ that are not hard for $DTIME(n^{k-1})$ under nearly linear time reductions?

Background It can be challenging to find computational problems that are solvable in $DTIME(n^k) - DTIME(n^{k-1})$ where $k \geq 2$. Although some natural problems are known to exist, many of them ...
3 votes
1 answer
161 views

$ACC^0$ implementation of a boolean function

Consider the symmetric boolean function $$F(x_1,\dots,x_n)=1\iff\sum_{i=1}^nx_i\mbox{ is a square}.$$ It is implementable in $TC^0$. Is there an $ACC^0$ implementation? The reason I ask is there seems ...
5 votes
0 answers
179 views

Trading treewidth for depth in Boolean circuits

We know that languages defined by (poly-sized) Boolean formulae equals $\mathbf{NC}^1$: that Boolean formulae can be simulated in $\mathbf{NC}^1$ was shown by Brent/Spira [B,S], and the converse is ...
7 votes
2 answers
904 views

Why should we believe that $NEXP \not \subset P/poly$

I am sorry if this is not an advanced question. Most computer scientists believed that $NEXP \not \subset P/poly$ but they are not even close to this assumption. The main evidence that they are used ...
0 votes
0 answers
61 views

Is anything known about NC$^1$ with NP oracle

A few things are known about the class $\textsf{L}$ provided with an $\textsf{NP}$ oracle ($\textsf{L}^\textsf{NP} = \Theta_2^\textsf{P}$ has attracted a bit of attention, for instance [1]) On the ...
1 vote
1 answer
102 views

Variable wire weights in DLOGTIME-uniform circuits

The definition of a $DLOGTIME$-uniform circuit family is based on a Turing machine that accepts the language $\langle t, a, b \rangle$, where gate $a$ is of type $t$ and has gate $b$ as a child, ...
12 votes
2 answers
328 views

Circuit and Formula Lower Bounds for Separating Sparse Sets of Strings

We say that a pair $(P,N)$ of subsets of strings from $\{0,1\}^n$ is an $n$-pair if $|P|=|N|=n$. Intuitively, sucha a pair consists of a set $P$ with $n$ positive $n$-bit strings, and a set $N$ with $...
7 votes
4 answers
453 views

Reference request: Arithmetic circuit complexity

I am completely new to this field. I want to read the prelims and unfortunately, I don't see any book written for a beginner in this area. Can anyone give me some basic starting points/references(text/...
33 votes
0 answers
1k views

Is BPP= P known for ANY uniform model of computation?

Many believe that BPP $=$ P "should" hold for Turing machines. We even have some "witnesses" for this: otherwise some "strange" things would happen; see e.g. this paper by Implagliazzo and Wigderson. ...
50 votes
0 answers
2k views

Monotone complexity of s-t connectivity

In the problem CONN, we obtain a directed $n$-vertex graph (encoded as a boolean string of $n^2$ bits, one for each potential edge), and want to decide whether there is a path between all $n^2$ pairs $...
1 vote
1 answer
102 views

Composition theorem for randomized communication complexity

I am currently organizing the literature of composition theorem, and I found the paper by https://www.research.cs.rutgers.edu/~troyjlee/Composition.pdf, in their theorem 5, I find $$ R_{1/4} (f \circ ...
17 votes
1 answer
3k views

Boolean Functions Where Sensitivity Equals Block Sensitivity

Some of the work on sensitivity vs. block sensitivity has been aimed at examining functions with as large a gap as possible between $s(f)$ and $bs(f)$ in order to resolve the conjecture that $bs(f)$ ...
4 votes
0 answers
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On solving Planar Circuit SAT

This enquiry is three-sided. Side 1 - State of the art Which is the best known algorithm for $\text{PLANAR-CIRCUIT-SAT}$? Which is the best known algorithm for $\text{PLANAR-CIRCUIT-SAT}$ assuming ...
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

Multiplicative-depth 1 composition of arithmetic circuits

I am trying to find information about the following problem. Let $C_1$ and $C_2$ be any two poly-size arithmetic circuits on input vectors x₁ and x₂ correspondingly. Assume that a third arithmetic ...
5 votes
1 answer
250 views

What is FO(REGULAR)? (The descriptive complexity equivalent of NC1)

According to Immerman's Descriptive Complexity diagram, there is a logic called $\mathsf{FO(REGULAR)}$ which captures $\mathsf{NC}^1$. However, I can't find the reference where this logic is defined. ...
3 votes
0 answers
110 views

Improving boolean circuits w.r.t. a probability distribution

This is a reference request. Consider the following problem on boolean circuits [ 1 ]: Given: Boolean circuit $B$ and probability distribution $\mathbb{P}$ on inputs to $B$. Task: Find one or more ...
14 votes
1 answer
389 views

Universal Boolean Formulas

Fix $n\in\mathbb{N}$. Consider a rooted binary tree $T$ in which every non-leaf node contains either AND-gate or OR-gate. Let me say that $T$ is an universal formula if for every $f\colon\{0,1\}^n\to\{...
9 votes
3 answers
1k views

P/Poly vs Uniform Complexity Classes

It is not known whether NEXP is contained in P/poly. Indeed proving that NEXP is not in P/poly would have some applications in derandomization. What is the smallest uniform class C for which one can ...
2 votes
0 answers
140 views

Matrix multiplication when one matrix is fixed

Let $A$ be a fixed positive entried integer matrix of size $a\times n$ with $\ell$ bits per entry One is allowed to pre-process this matrix as appropriate. Given another positive integer entried $B$...
4 votes
0 answers
124 views

Is the Complexity Zoo Inclusion Diagram exclusively about classes of decision problems?

The Complexity Zoo includes the class QNC$^0$, which does not seem to be a class of decision problems. When I chase the references of the link provided, they say “To extend this definition from ...
5 votes
1 answer
261 views

What are the consequences of a faster algorithm for $CIRCUIT$-$SAT$?

What is the best algorithm known for $CIRCUIT$-$SAT$ in $n$ variables and $m$ gates? What is the consequence if there is an $\alpha\in(0,1)$ such that $CIRCUIT$-$SAT$ in $n$ variables and $m$ gates ...
14 votes
1 answer
451 views

What would signify hierarchy collapse to first level?

We know that $$\mathsf{NP\subseteq P/Poly \iff coNP\subseteq P/Poly\implies PH=\Sigma_2^P}=\mathsf{\Pi_2^P}$$ $$\mathsf{NP\subseteq P/Log\iff coNP\subseteq P/Log\implies PH=\Sigma_0^P=\Pi_0^P}$$ ...
3 votes
2 answers
470 views

Is the unbounded fan-in model realistic?

Does the unbounded fan-in circuit model apply in "practical" settings? In other words, are there real-world realisable computers with unbounded fan-in gates? As I understand, standard silicon ASICs ...
11 votes
1 answer
327 views

Reversible polynomial circuit iff polynomial reversible circuit?

My question is about efficiently computable bijective functions. Informally I'm interested in: If a bijection is computable in polynomial time, can we compute it by a polynomial number of bijective ...
17 votes
1 answer
503 views

Oracular separations between poly- and log-depth quantum circuits

The following problem appears in Aaronson's list Ten Semi-Grand Challenges for Quantum Computing Theory. Is $\mathsf{BQP}=\mathsf{BPP}^{\mathsf{BQNC}}$ In other words, can the "quantum" part of any ...
-1 votes
1 answer
246 views

Evidence integer multiplication is in linear time?

After millenia of quest we have identified two $n$ bit integers can be multiplied in $O(n\log n)$ time. Please refer details in https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematicians-discover-the-perfect-way-...
16 votes
0 answers
279 views

Does small circuits for a NP-complete problem contradict ETH?

The remarks of the Theorem 4 in the paper "On the complexity of circuit satisfiability" claims that: if circuit satisfiability (CktSat) problem can be decided by deterministic circuits of $2^{o(n)}$ ...
5 votes
0 answers
320 views

Does Depth-First-Search admit a quasilinear time algorithm in mutitape Turing Machine model?

Depth-First-Search (DFS) has a quasilinear (i.e.,$\widetilde{O}(m+n)$) time algorithm in random access model (RAM). I am curious about whether DFS still admits a $\widetilde{O}(m+n)$ time algorithm in ...
1 vote
0 answers
112 views

Switching lemma for polynomials over $\mathbb{F}_2$

Suppose $f$ is in $\mathbb{F}_2[x_1,...,x_n]$ with total degree $d$. Q. Is there any kind of switching lemma or restriction lemma in which by applying the lemma on $f$ we can reduce the total ...
2 votes
0 answers
130 views

What is the communication complexity of approximating addition?

In my circuit complexity research, I came across the need to find the communication complexity of approximating addition. Specifically, the class of problems I am interested in is parametrized by four ...
2 votes
1 answer
154 views

Upper bounds on the circut depth

Suppose $f:\{0,1\}^n \to \{0,1\}$ is a function such that it can be computed by a circuit of size $n^c$ for some constant $c>0$. Q. Is there any nontrivial upper bound on the depth of a circuit ...
7 votes
2 answers
528 views

Razborov-Smolensky polynomial argument on $\textrm{ACC}[q]$ where $q$ is a prime power

It seems to be a folklore that we can "handle" $\textrm{ACC}[q]$ circuits not only for prime $q$ but prime power $q$. For example, authors of this paper say that ... any constant depth circuit ...

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