Noise stability of functions with low influences: invariance and optimality

In this paper we study functions with low influences on product probability spaces. The analysis of boolean functions with low influences has become a central problem in discrete Fourier analysis. It is motivated by fundamental questions arising from the construction of probabilistically checkable proofs in theoretical computer science and from problems in the theory of social choice in economics. We prove an invariance principle for multilinear polynomials with low influences and bounded degree; it shows that under mild conditions the distribution of such polynomials is essentially invariant for all product spaces. Ours is one of the very few known non-linear invariance principles. It has the advantage that its proof is simple and that the error bounds are explicit. We also show that the assumption of bounded degree can be eliminated if the polynomials are slightly ``smoothed''; this extension is essential for our applications to ``noise stability''-type problems. In particular, as applications of the invariance principle we prove two conjectures: the ``Majority Is Stablest'' conjecture from theoretical computer science, which was the original motivation for this work, and the ``It Ain't Over Till It's Over'' conjecture from social choice theory

Tight Bounds for Online Matching in Bounded-Degree Graphs with Vertex Capacities

We study the b-matching problem in bipartite graphs G = (S,R,E). Each vertex s ? S is a server with individual capacity b_s. The vertices r ? R are requests that arrive online and must be assigned instantly to an eligible server. The goal is to maximize the size of the constructed matching. We assume that G is a (k,d)-graph [J. Naor and D. Wajc, 2018], where k specifies a lower bound on the degree of each server and d is an upper bound on the degree of each request. This setting models matching problems in timely applications. We present tight upper and lower bounds on the performance of deterministic online algorithms. In particular, we develop a new online algorithm via a primal-dual analysis. The optimal competitive ratio tends to 1, for arbitrary k ? d, as the server capacities increase. Hence, nearly optimal solutions can be computed online. Our results also hold for the vertex-weighted problem extension, and thus for AdWords and auction problems in which each bidder issues individual, equally valued bids. Our bounds improve the previous best competitive ratios. The asymptotic competitiveness of 1 is a significant improvement over the previous factor of 1-1/e^{k/d}, for the interesting range where k/d ? 1 is small. Recall that 1-1/e ? 0.63. Matching problems that admit a competitive ratio arbitrarily close to 1 are rare. Prior results rely on randomization or probabilistic input models

Fast Computation of Small Cuts via Cycle Space Sampling

We describe a new sampling-based method to determine cuts in an undirected graph. For a graph (V, E), its cycle space is the family of all subsets of E that have even degree at each vertex. We prove that with high probability, sampling the cycle space identifies the cuts of a graph. This leads to simple new linear-time sequential algorithms for finding all cut edges and cut pairs (a set of 2 edges that form a cut) of a graph. In the model of distributed computing in a graph G=(V, E) with O(log V)-bit messages, our approach yields faster algorithms for several problems. The diameter of G is denoted by Diam, and the maximum degree by Delta. We obtain simple O(Diam)-time distributed algorithms to find all cut edges, 2-edge-connected components, and cut pairs, matching or improving upon previous time bounds. Under natural conditions these new algorithms are universally optimal --- i.e. a Omega(Diam)-time lower bound holds on every graph. We obtain a O(Diam+Delta/log V)-time distributed algorithm for finding cut vertices; this is faster than the best previous algorithm when Delta, Diam = O(sqrt(V)). A simple extension of our work yields the first distributed algorithm with sub-linear time for 3-edge-connected components. The basic distributed algorithms are Monte Carlo, but they can be made Las Vegas without increasing the asymptotic complexity. In the model of parallel computing on the EREW PRAM our approach yields a simple algorithm with optimal time complexity O(log V) for finding cut pairs and 3-edge-connected components.Comment: Previous version appeared in Proc. 35th ICALP, pages 145--160, 200

Open Problems on Central Simple Algebras

We provide a survey of past research and a list of open problems regarding central simple algebras and the Brauer group over a field, intended both for experts and for beginners.Comment: v2 has some small revisions to the text. Some items are re-numbered, compared to v

On the extension complexity of combinatorial polytopes

In this paper we extend recent results of Fiorini et al. on the extension complexity of the cut polytope and related polyhedra. We first describe a lifting argument to show exponential extension complexity for a number of NP-complete problems including subset-sum and three dimensional matching. We then obtain a relationship between the extension complexity of the cut polytope of a graph and that of its graph minors. Using this we are able to show exponential extension complexity for the cut polytope of a large number of graphs, including those used in quantum information and suspensions of cubic planar graphs.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 2 table