Constant Factor Approximation for Balanced Cut in the PIE model

We propose and study a new semi-random semi-adversarial model for Balanced Cut, a planted model with permutation-invariant random edges (PIE). Our model is much more general than planted models considered previously. Consider a set of vertices V partitioned into two clusters $L$ and $R$ of equal size. Let $G$ be an arbitrary graph on $V$ with no edges between $L$ and $R$. Let $E_{random}$ be a set of edges sampled from an arbitrary permutation-invariant distribution (a distribution that is invariant under permutation of vertices in $L$ and in $R$). Then we say that $G + E_{random}$ is a graph with permutation-invariant random edges. We present an approximation algorithm for the Balanced Cut problem that finds a balanced cut of cost $O(|E_{random}|) + n \text{polylog}(n)$ in this model. In the regime when $|E_{random}| = \Omega(n \text{polylog}(n))$, this is a constant factor approximation with respect to the cost of the planted cut.Comment: Full version of the paper at the 46th ACM Symposium on the Theory of Computing (STOC 2014). 32 page

Consistency Thresholds for the Planted Bisection Model

The planted bisection model is a random graph model in which the nodes are divided into two equal-sized communities and then edges are added randomly in a way that depends on the community membership. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the asymptotic recoverability of the planted bisection in this model. When the bisection is asymptotically recoverable, we give an efficient algorithm that successfully recovers it. We also show that the planted bisection is recoverable asymptotically if and only if with high probability every node belongs to the same community as the majority of its neighbors. Our algorithm for finding the planted bisection runs in time almost linear in the number of edges. It has three stages: spectral clustering to compute an initial guess, a "replica" stage to get almost every vertex correct, and then some simple local moves to finish the job. An independent work by Abbe, Bandeira, and Hall establishes similar (slightly weaker) results but only in the case of logarithmic average degree.Comment: latest version contains an erratum, addressing an error pointed out by Jan van Waai

Constant factor approximation for balanced cut in the PIE model Tasos Sidiropoulos: Spectral concentration, robust k-center, and simple clustering

Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor affiliation: Microsoft ResearchOthe