Bernd. R. Schuh | Searcharxiv

arXiv2020

Balanced incomplete block designs and exact satisfiability

The paper explores the correspondence between balanced incomplete block designs (BIBD) and certain linear CNF formulas by identifying the points of a block design with the clauses of the Boolean formula and blocks with Boolean variables. Parallel classes in BIBDs correspond to XSAT solutions in the corresponding formula. This correspondence allows for transfers of results from one field to the other. As a new result we deduce from known satisfiability theorems that the problem of finding a parallel class in a partially balanced incomplete block design is NP-complete.

cs.CC↗

arXiv2018

XSAT of Linear CNF Formulas

Open questions with respect to the computational complexity of linear CNF formulas in connection with regularity and uniformity are addressed. In particular it is proven that any l-regular monotone CNF formula is XSAT-unsatisfiable if its number of clauses m is not a multiple of l. For exact linear formulas one finds surprisingly that l-regularity implies k-uniformity, with m = 1 + k(l-1)) and allowed k-values obey k(k-1) = 0 (mod l). Then the computational complexity of the class of monotone exact linear and l-regular CNF formulas with respect to XSAT can be determined: XSAT-satisfiability is either trivial, if m is not a multiple of l, or it can be decided in sub-exponential time, namely O(exp(n^^1/2)). Sub-exponential time behaviour for the wider class of regular and uniform linear CNF formulas can be shown for certain subclasses.

cs.CC↗