Questions regarding well-defined instructions for completing a task, and relevant analysis in terms of time/memory/etc.
8
votes
0answers
108 views
Finding $n$ many different primes efficiently
I want to find $n$ many different primes on RAM. I can find $O(\frac{n}{\log n})$ many primes in the interval $1$ to $n$ in $O(n)$ running time. A brute force way is to find $O(\frac{n}{\log n})$ many ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
Deciding whether an interval contains a prime number
What is the complexity of deciding whether an interval of the natural numbers contains a prime? A variant of the Sieve of Eratosthenes gives an $\tilde O(L)$ algorithm, where $L$ is the length of the ...
1
vote
0answers
206 views
Impagliazzo lemma, unclear detail in its proof
In Arora-Barak's book on page 378 in the proof of Impagliazzo's Hard Core lemma why did they choose the number 50 in this line: Set $t = \frac{50n}{\epsilon^2}$ ? How this choice then yields the size ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
What does “hold uniformly” mean in the context of asymptotic analysis?
What does "hold uniformly" mean in the statement of Theorem 1.7 in
A Faster Subquadratic Algorithm for Finding Outlier Correlations? Here's the theorem text ("hold uniformly" is in the last line):
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Fast algorithm to find a maximum connected subgraph of k vertices
Given an undirected graph $G = (V, E)$ and a function $f: 2^V \to \mathbb{R}^+,$ where $2^V$ is the set of all subsets of $V$. Find a connected subgraph $T = (V_T, E_T)$ of k vertices such that $f(V_T)...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Minimization of the maximal adjacent integer sums on a circle
Arrange $\{1,2,\cdots,n\}$ on a circle. What are the arrangements that minimize the maximal sum of all adjacent $k$ integers? For specific and low $n$'s it has been pointed out in math.stackexchange....
0
votes
0answers
42 views
What is the best approximation and exact algorithm for vertex cover on cubic graphs?
"Best" = best performing in terms of run-time for exact algorithm and approximation ratio for an approximation algorithm.
6
votes
1answer
124 views
How to solve this generalization of binary search?
Let $f:\{1,\ldots,n\}$ be a monotonically non-decreasing function.
Consider, for some unknown threshold $1\le T\le n$, a threshold function
$$g(x)= \begin{cases}
0&\text{x<T}\\
1&\text{...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Complexity of distributively verifying that the diameter is small
Consider a graph $G=(V,E)$ and an integer parameter $k$.
I'm interested in the round complexity, in the CONGEST model, of checking if the diameter of the graph is "much larger" or "much smaller" than ...
4
votes
0answers
55 views
2-hop distributed coloring in the CONGEST model
Consider a graph $G=(V,E)$ and let $d(u,v)$ denote the distance between $u$ and $v$ in $G$.
A 2-hop coloring is a mapping $c:V\to{1,\ldots, C}$ ($C$ is the number of colors) such that $d(u,v)\le 2 \...
2
votes
0answers
196 views
Career advice needed: Switching from theoretical CS to pure math
I couldn't think of a better forum to ask this question. I am a first year cs graduate student. I couldn't really pursue theoretical cs during my undergrad, but as part of our PhD qualifiers, i had to ...
2
votes
1answer
225 views
Existence of an algorithm
I need to show that there exists a polynomial time algorithm that inputs a deterministic automata $A$, and decides if $A$ accepts a word w if and only if it also accepts any word obtained by permuting ...
4
votes
0answers
56 views
Smoothed analysis to compare algorithms
Has there been any research using smoothed analysis to compare approximation algorithms that have the same approximation ratio?
Any research that compares algorithms using smoothed analysis would be ...
3
votes
1answer
41 views
Algorithm for finding smallest set and instanciation for a given constraint system
I have a system of constraints described by a set of clauses of the form
$x_1 \neq x_2 \lor \dots \lor x_{i-1} \neq x_i$, for instance:
...
21
votes
4answers
733 views
Problems that are counter-intuitively solvable in practice?
Recently, I went through the painful fun experience of informally explaining the concept of computational complexity to a young talented self-taught programmer, who never took a formal course in ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
How can algorithms with nested combinatorial searches be quasi-linear?
I've come across algorithms similar to the one below, where a demanding step is performed, which should have at least polynomial complexity, yet the whole algorithm is deemed quasi-linear without ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Algorithm for solving majority of a group of k hidden elements
You may already be familiar with algorithms to compute the majority using multiple queries. The way these problems work is that you are given a bin of $n$ marbles of binary colors, whose colors you ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Anti bin packing
I have a (practically) unlimited amount of McDonald's coupons that I can use only if I shop for at least 1 money.
Thus I want to partition my family's meal into as many parts as possible that all ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
Algorithm in logarithmic time that finds a number with the help of a subarray that is not in the array
The question is as follows.
Given: A sorted array A of n integers where A[n − 1] − A[0] ≥ n.
Asked: Give an algorithm and the invariant of the algorithm that finds a number between A[0] and A[n - 1] ...
9
votes
4answers
223 views
W[1]-hard problems with FPT time approximation algorithms
I'm looking for problems that are hard to solve in FPT time but has an approximation algorithm. That is, problems that are:
R1. W[1]-hard.
R2. Admit a (preferably constant) approximation algorithm ...
5
votes
1answer
146 views
“Smallest” path that visits a given set of vertices
I use smallest rather than shortest to distinguish between the shortest path problem. The problem is as follows:
Given a directed graph $G=(V,E)$, two vertices $s$ and $t$, and a set of $p$ ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
What is the best and easy (regarding implementation) way of computing three edge independent trees in a 3-connected graph?
I am searching for an implementation of an algorithm that constructs three edge independent spanning trees from a 3-edge connected graph. Any response will be appreciated. Thanks in Advance.
3
votes
1answer
117 views
On complexity of linear programming with quadratic equality/inequality constraints?
Feasibility test in Linear programming is in $P$ and in convex quadratic programming is in $P$. What is the maximum $k$ such that $n$-variable $m=poly(n)$ linear constraint feasibility test with $k$ ...
3
votes
0answers
125 views
Fast way of getting a matrix of sums
We are given an array of variables $A$, along with a matrix $M$. The elements of the matrix $M$ are composed of sums of the variables in $A$. We are allowed to pre-process $A$ in order to find a ...
8
votes
2answers
272 views
Counterexample to max-flow algorithms with irrational weights?
It is known that Ford-Fulkerson or Edmonds-Karp with the fat pipe heuristic (two algorithms for max-flow) need not halt if some of the weights are irrational. In fact, they can even converge on the ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Metric 1-Center in l-infinity norm (when dimension is part of the input)
Consider the following problem,
Input: A number $d>0$, $X \subseteq \mathbb{R}^d$.
Output: A center $c\in \mathbb{R}^d$ s.t $\max_{x \in X} \lVert x - c\rVert_p $ is minimized.
This is the 1-...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Does the following 2-rounds distributed algorithm approximates a maximal matching well?
Let $G$ be an undirected graph.
I'm looking for a two-rounds distributed algorithm that matches as many vertex pairs as possible.
Consider the following protocol for vertex $v$.
Use a fair coin to ...
1
vote
0answers
86 views
How to represent boolean tree + algorithm as a mathematical formula
In programming say you have a boolean tree like this:
...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Examples of algorithms and proofs that seem correct, but aren't
In my intro to programming course, we're learning about the Initialization-Maintenance-Termination method of proving an algorithm does what we expect it to. But we've only had to prove that an ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Is there any time efficient way of achieving the result of FKS hashing lemma?
FKS hashing lemma states.
Given a set of $n-$bit numbers $\{x_1,x_2,\dots,x_k\}$ there exist a
prime $p$ of $O(\log n + \log k)$-bit such that $x_i$ mod $p \neq $
$x_j$ mod $p$ if $x_i \neq x_j$...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
Minimizing SubModular Function: Cardinality
Given a submodular function f: 2^V to reals (not necessarily monotone), and an integer k, find a set S such that |S| <= k and such that f(S) is minimized.
When the size constraint is |S| >=k, the ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
What is the fastest gradient based algorithm to get to criticality of a “nice” non-convex function?
I am allowing for the following properties for a once differentiable non-convex $f : \mathbb{R}^d \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$,
(a) Let there be a $\sigma >0$ s.t the norm of the gradient of the ...
5
votes
1answer
400 views
Minimum cost topological ordering
We are given a $n$ vertex directed graph $G=(V,E)$ and also given a cost function $c:V\times [n]\to \mathbb{R}$. Consider a topological ordering of the vertices, $v_1,\ldots,v_n$, the cost of the ...
9
votes
1answer
145 views
What is the fastest known algorithm for finding conjugacy classes?
Given a finite group $G$ of size $n$ by the table representation. I want to compute the conjugacy classes of group $G$. A trivial algorithm seems to take $O(n^2)$ operation ( $b = g^{-1}a g$ type ...
5
votes
0answers
161 views
Find a pair of nodes with maximum sum of distances in k given trees
For k edge-weighted trees $T_1,T_2...T_k$ which contain the same set of nodes $\{1,2,... n \}$, I want to find a pair of nodes $(x,y)$ which maxifies $$\sum_{i=1}^k d_i(x,y)$$ where $d_i(x,y)$ ...
3
votes
0answers
97 views
Graph-related applications of the fast Fourier transform (and other algebraic algorithms)
The fast matrix multiplication algorithm is useful for numerous graph problems (e.g. matchings and shortest paths).
However, while the fast Fourier transform algorithm implies several other near-...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Efficient algorithm for generating data dependency DAG from lists of memory ranges and access modes
Assume you are given:
A list of N (not necessarily distinct) memory ranges of the form [x,y], where x and y are non-negative integers representing the lower and upper bounds of the range, and
A list ...
2
votes
0answers
47 views
Has Khachiyan/Porkolob's convex integer optimization been implemented?
Khachiyan and Porkolab in 'Integer optimization on convex semialgebraic sets' gave an $O(ld^{ O(k^4)})$ algorithm to minimize a degree $d$ form with integer coefficients of binary length at most $l$ ...
9
votes
1answer
348 views
Is abelian group isomorphism in $\mathsf{AC^0}$?
An $O(n^2)$ running time algorithm for abelian group isomorphism is easy to see. Later working on this problem in 2003 Vikas improve the result from $O(n^2)$ running time to $O(n \log n)$. In 2007, ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
How to compute GCD efficiently?
I want to compute $ A= \langle \text{GCD}(a,j),j=2,3,..,k-1\rangle$ and assume that each value of $j$ is less than $a$. I can compute GCD(a,j), $j=2,3,..,k-1$ and $a \le j$ for single fixed value of $...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
What is the difference between PRAM and multi threading?
PRAM and multi-threading are somewhat part of the same model of the shared memory model, in which both can compute in parallel, and both can allow processors to communicate with each other since there ...
12
votes
1answer
606 views
Is sorting $n$ real numbers in time $O(n \sqrt{\log n})$ and linear space possible?
In the recent preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.00776, it is claimed that $n$ real numbers can be sorted in time
$$O(n \sqrt{\log n}),
$$
and linear space. The paper seems reasonable, though I am ...
14
votes
2answers
416 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
61 views
Is there some research about infinitely many-armed bandit with non-stationary assumption?
Is there some research about infinitely many-armed bandit with non-stationary assumption? I have found the paper about infinitely many-armed bandit under stationary (or stochastic) assumption. And I ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
Finding the largest set of points of limited diameter (2)
Problem: Given a set of points $S = \{(x_1, y_1), (x_2, y_2),\cdots,(x_n, y_n)\}$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and a distance threshold $\tau$, find a subset of $S$ such that (1) the Euclidean distance between ...
4
votes
0answers
148 views
Is Normal centralizer problem in P? [closed]
Notations
$\le$ is used for subgroup
$G = \langle A \rangle $ means group $G$ is generated by set $A$
$P$ means polynomial time in input size.
$\Omega = \{1,2,3,\cdots,n\}$ is a input domain
Sym($\...
9
votes
5answers
624 views
Can neural networks be used to devise algorithms?
After the newer and newer successes of neural networks in playing board games, one feels that the next goal we set could be something more useful than beating humans in Starcraft. More precisely, I ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Frequency-Count List Accessing Algo - Why free transpositions?
I came around some basic list access/update algos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_update_problem), and one of them is the Frequency-Count List Access Algorithm. It is said to use free ...
-3
votes
1answer
90 views
Continous work distribution algorithm with failover
Imagine there's a system where there's N workers and M units of work, for example, N ≤ 64, M = 256.
Is there an algorithm that ...
1
vote
0answers
90 views
Convention for RAM machine models
When algorithm asymptotic runtimes are given without explicitly noting the computational model, what is the convention for the exact model used?
My understanding is that most problems use unit-cost ...
