2,250 research outputs found
Random Weighting, Asymptotic Counting, and Inverse Isoperimetry
For a family X of k-subsets of the set 1,...,n, let |X| be the cardinality of
X and let Gamma(X,mu) be the expected maximum weight of a subset from X when
the weights of 1,...,n are chosen independently at random from a symmetric
probability distribution mu on R. We consider the inverse isoperimetric problem
of finding mu for which Gamma(X,mu) gives the best estimate of ln|X|. We prove
that the optimal choice of mu is the logistic distribution, in which case
Gamma(X,mu) provides an asymptotically tight estimate of ln|X| as k^{-1}ln|X|
grows. Since in many important cases Gamma(X,mu) can be easily computed, we
obtain computationally efficient approximation algorithms for a variety of
counting problems. Given mu, we describe families X of a given cardinality with
the minimum value of Gamma(X,mu), thus extending and sharpening various
isoperimetric inequalities in the Boolean cube.Comment: The revision contains a new isoperimetric theorem, some other
improvements and extensions; 29 pages, 1 figur
A Combinatorial Algorithm for All-Pairs Shortest Paths in Directed Vertex-Weighted Graphs with Applications to Disc Graphs
We consider the problem of computing all-pairs shortest paths in a directed
graph with real weights assigned to vertices.
For an 0-1 matrix let be the complete weighted graph
on the rows of where the weight of an edge between two rows is equal to
their Hamming distance. Let be the weight of a minimum weight spanning
tree of
We show that the all-pairs shortest path problem for a directed graph on
vertices with nonnegative real weights and adjacency matrix can be
solved by a combinatorial randomized algorithm in time
As a corollary, we conclude that the transitive closure of a directed graph
can be computed by a combinatorial randomized algorithm in the
aforementioned time.
We also conclude that the all-pairs shortest path problem for uniform disk
graphs, with nonnegative real vertex weights, induced by point sets of bounded
density within a unit square can be solved in time
On active and passive testing
Given a property of Boolean functions, what is the minimum number of queries
required to determine with high probability if an input function satisfies this
property or is "far" from satisfying it? This is a fundamental question in
Property Testing, where traditionally the testing algorithm is allowed to pick
its queries among the entire set of inputs. Balcan, Blais, Blum and Yang have
recently suggested to restrict the tester to take its queries from a smaller
random subset of polynomial size of the inputs. This model is called active
testing, and in the extreme case when the size of the set we can query from is
exactly the number of queries performed it is known as passive testing.
We prove that passive or active testing of k-linear functions (that is, sums
of k variables among n over Z_2) requires Theta(k*log n) queries, assuming k is
not too large. This extends the case k=1, (that is, dictator functions),
analyzed by Balcan et. al.
We also consider other classes of functions including low degree polynomials,
juntas, and partially symmetric functions. Our methods combine algebraic,
combinatorial, and probabilistic techniques, including the Talagrand
concentration inequality and the Erdos--Rado theorem on Delta-systems.Comment: 16 page
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