# Questions tagged [approximation-algorithms]

412 questions
Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
26 views

### kmeans++ for arbitrary metric spaces and general potential function

I was reading this popular paper "k-means++: The Advantages of Careful Seeding". It appeared in SODA 2007. Since this technique is the most popular clustering technique, I am hoping that my question ...
29 views

94 views

### Complexity of a scheduling problem with a fixed left bound of jobs

Consider the following scheduling problem. We have a finite set of jobs $\mathcal{J}= \{j_1, j_2, ..., j_n\}$ to do. Every job $j_i$ has its own value $c_i$ (the amount of money we are paid for ...
102 views

58 views

### What is the run-time of LP?

Are there any further generalizations known to the result about run-time of a LP than what is stated in Theorem 1 of these lecture notes, https://nisheethvishnoi.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/lecture71....
40 views

### Approximate nearest neighbor search for $(\ell_p)^p$ metric, $0 < p < 1$

It is well known that approximate bichromatic nearest-neighbor search can be solved in sub-quadratic time for the $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ norms, as well as some other metrics. Are there any such results ...
353 views

### Why is the Greedy Conjecture so difficult?

I recently learned about the Greedy conjecture for the Shortest Superstring Problem. In this problem, we are given a set of strings $s_1,\dots, s_n$ and we want to find the shortest superstring $s$ ...
216 views

### Martingale exit arguments for gradient Langevin dynamics

I am concerned about the proof of Lemma 6.3 (page 18) of this paper, https://arxiv.org/pdf/1902.08179.pdf which shows that for smooth convex functions the gradient Langevin dynamics has a high ...
230 views

### What is the fastest known algorithm for computing a 1.99-approximation of Vertex Cover?

It is known that computing $(\sqrt 2 -\epsilon)$-approximation for VC is NP-hard and that UGC implies that even a $(2 -\epsilon)$-approximation is hard. There is also a parameterized algorithm for ...
79 views

### Alternative criterion for approximate maximum-weight perfect matching algorithms

I have asked this question in cs.stackeschange, and it was recommended to me that I asked it here. Is there any literature on approximate maximum-weight perfect matchings where the approximation ...
51 views

28 views

### Two question regarding coreset construictions

I have two questions regarding coreset construction of clustering problem In A Unified Framework for Approximating and Clustering Data, a very general framework is given to construct coresets for ...
60 views

### Linear time algorithm for projective clustering

There is a lot of work in clustering of high dimensional data. In case of k-means, it is shown here that one can get an $(1+\epsilon)$-approximation in linear time, yielding a PTAS, by random sampling....
152 views

### Count satisfying assignments of CNF formulas over all possible negation assignments

Consider the set of all CNF instances that can be generated by adding negations to a single monotone CNF instance. How hard is it to compute the sum of the counts of satisfying assignments for the set?...
71 views

### $XP_{\text{uniform}}=FPT$ and update to $EPTAS$ section in complexity zoo?

Complexity zoo in https://complexityzoo.uwaterloo.ca/Complexity_Zoo:E#eptas has the following: $FPT = XPuniform\implies EPTAS = PTAS$. Fundamentals of Parametrized complexity on page $534$ has ...
70 views

81 views

### Machine Learning Algorithm To Fill Data Holes

I'm having trouble finding a good place to begin with this. I'm just looking for a name or point to start researching a Let's say I have 1000 records. 10 of these records are only 90% complete. The ...
43 views

123 views

### Minimum relevant variables in linear system - additive approximation

In the problem Minimum Relevant Variables in Linear System (Min-RVLS), the input is a linear system, e.g.: $$A x = b$$ and the goal is to find a solution $x$ with as few nonzero variables as ...
162 views

### Best polynomial-time approximation factor for NP-optimization problems

Let us say that a function $f(n)$ is the best approximation factor for an NP-optimization problem, if both of the following hold: There exist a polynomial-time algorithm $A,$ and an integer $n_0$, ...
133 views

### Grid-Minor Theorem of Robertson and Seymour and its Algorithmic Applications

Graph-Minor Theorem of Robertson and Seymour [1] states that if graph G has large treewidth, then it contains a large grid as minor. Most approximation results on general classes of graphs with ...
50 views

### PTAS for projective clustering : survey

$(k,j)$-projective clustering is the natural generalisation for k-clustering, in which one needs to find $k$ $j$-flats in $\mathbb{R}^d$ that minimizes the cost function as defined below: Given a $j$-...
36 views

### Best approach for allocation problem

I am a bit rusty on optimization algorithms and need an advice. This is my problem: I have n images (with width and ...
59 views

### Why do k min-hashes, instead of one hash where we find the k minimum elements?

Traditionally if one wants to sketch streams for Jaccard similarity hashing, one finds the minimum element in each of $k$ permutation for comparison purposes, and then takes number_of_collisions / $k$ ...
204 views

### Does Max Planar 3-SAT admit a PTAS?

Suppose we are given a formula $\phi$ of 3-SAT, with variables $x_1,\dots, x_n$ and clauses $C_1,\dots, C_m$. Consider the graph $G_\phi$ where there is one node for each clause $C_i$, for each ...
156 views

### Classification of randomized approximation algorithms

Is there a known classification of randomized approximation algorithms, in the same vein as the distinction between Monte Carlo and Las Vegas algorithms for decision problems? (Or equivalently ...
63 views

### Polynomial approximation algorithm for set cover with assumption

We want to cover $n$ elements with some sets from $S_1, …, S_m$ (classical set cover). We furthermore suppose that any element belongs to at least $k$ sets and want to find a set cover with cardinal ...
### Counting the maximum number of paths of length $n$ that differ in at least $k$ edges
What is known about the complexity of solving (or approximately solving) the following problem? INPUT: Graph $G=(V,E)$ and constants $L$ and $K$. OUTPUT: The maximum size of any set $S$ of simple ...