arXiv subjects

Meirav Zehavi

Publications and source records attributed to Meirav Zehavi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Finding Long Directed Cycles Is Hard Even When DFVS Is Small Or Girth Is Large

We study the parameterized complexity of two classic problems on directed graphs: Hamiltonian Cycle and its generalization {\sc Longest Cycle}. Since 2008, it is known that Hamiltonian Cycle is W[1]-hard when parameterized by directed treewidth [Lampis et al., ISSAC'08]. By now, the question of whether it is FPT parameterized by the directed feedback vertex set (DFVS) number has become a longstanding open problem. In particular, the DFVS number is the largest natural directed width measure studied in the literature. In this paper, we provide a negative answer to the question, showing that even for the DFVS number, the problem remains W[1]-hard. As a consequence, we also obtain that Longest Cycle is W[1]-hard on directed graphs when parameterized multiplicatively above girth, in contrast to the undirected case. This resolves an open question posed by Fomin et al. [ACM ToCT'21] and Gutin and Mnich [arXiv:2207.12278]. Our hardness results apply to the path versions of the problems as well. On the positive side, we show that Longest Path parameterized multiplicatively above girth} belongs to the class XP.

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arXiv2023

Kernelization of Counting Problems

We introduce a new framework for the analysis of preprocessing routines for parameterized counting problems. Existing frameworks that encapsulate parameterized counting problems permit the usage of exponential (rather than polynomial) time either explicitly or by implicitly reducing the counting problems to enumeration problems. Thus, our framework is the only one in the spirit of classic kernelization (as well as lossy kernelization). Specifically, we define a compression of a counting problem $P$ into a counting problem $Q$ as a pair of polynomial-time procedures: $\mathsf{reduce}$ and $\mathsf{lift}$. Given an instance of $P$, $\mathsf{reduce}$ outputs an instance of $Q$ whose size is bounded by a function $f$ of the parameter, and given the number of solutions to the instance of $Q$, $\mathsf{lift}$ outputs the number of solutions to the instance of $P$. When $P=Q$, compression is termed kernelization, and when $f$ is polynomial, compression is termed polynomial compression. Our technical (and other conceptual) contributions concern both upper bounds and lower bounds.

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arXiv2023

Meta-theorems for Parameterized Streaming Algorithms

The streaming model was introduced to parameterized complexity independently by Fafianie and Kratsch [MFCS14] and by Chitnis, Cormode, Hajiaghayi and Monemizadeh [SODA15]. Subsequently, it was broadened by Chitnis, Cormode, Esfandiari, Hajiaghayi and Monemizadeh [SPAA15] and by Chitnis, Cormode, Esfandiari, Hajiaghayi, McGregor, Monemizadeh and Vorotnikova [SODA16]. Despite its strong motivation, the applicability of the streaming model to central problems in parameterized complexity has remained, for almost a decade, quite limited. Indeed, due to simple $Ω(n)$-space lower bounds for many of these problems, the $k^{O(1)}\cdot {\rm polylog}(n)$-space requirement in the model is too strict. Thus, we explore {\em semi-streaming} algorithms for parameterized graph problems, and present the first systematic study of this topic. Crucially, we aim to construct succinct representations of the input on which optimal post-processing time complexity can be achieved. - We devise meta-theorems specifically designed for parameterized streaming and demonstrate their applicability by obtaining the first $k^{O(1)}\cdot n\cdot {\rm polylog}(n)$-space streaming algorithms for well-studied problems such as Feedback Vertex Set on Tournaments, Cluster Vertex Deletion, Proper Interval Vertex Deletion and Block Vertex Deletion. In the process, we demonstrate a fundamental connection between semi-streaming algorithms for recognizing graphs in a graph class H and semi-streaming algorithms for the problem of vertex deletion into H. - We present an algorithmic machinery for obtaining streaming algorithms for cut problems and exemplify this by giving the first $k^{O(1)}\cdot n\cdot {\rm polylog}(n)$-space streaming algorithms for Graph Bipartitization, Multiway Cut and Subset Feedback Vertex Set.

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arXiv2023

$\mathcal{P}$-matchings Parameterized by Treewidth

A \emph{matching} is a subset of edges in a graph $G$ that do not share an endpoint. A matching $M$ is a \emph{$\mathcal{P}$-matching} if the subgraph of $G$ induced by the endpoints of the edges of $M$ satisfies property $\mathcal{P}$. For example, if the property $\mathcal{P}$ is that of being a matching, being acyclic, or being disconnected, then we obtain an \emph{induced matching}, an \emph{acyclic matching}, and a \emph{disconnected matching}, respectively. In this paper, we analyze the problems of the computation of these matchings from the viewpoint of Parameterized Complexity with respect to the parameter \emph{treewidth}.

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arXiv2023

Planar Disjoint Paths, Treewidth, and Kernels

In the Planar Disjoint Paths problem, one is given an undirected planar graph with a set of $k$ vertex pairs $(s_i,t_i)$ and the task is to find $k$ pairwise vertex-disjoint paths such that the $i$-th path connects $s_i$ to $t_i$. We study the problem through the lens of kernelization, aiming at efficiently reducing the input size in terms of a parameter. We show that Planar Disjoint Paths does not admit a polynomial kernel when parameterized by $k$ unless coNP $\subseteq$ NP/poly, resolving an open problem by [Bodlaender, Thomass{é}, Yeo, ESA'09]. Moreover, we rule out the existence of a polynomial Turing kernel unless the WK-hierarchy collapses. Our reduction carries over to the setting of edge-disjoint paths, where the kernelization status remained open even in general graphs. On the positive side, we present a polynomial kernel for Planar Disjoint Paths parameterized by $k + tw$, where $tw$ denotes the treewidth of the input graph. As a consequence of both our results, we rule out the possibility of a polynomial-time (Turing) treewidth reduction to $tw= k^{O(1)}$ under the same assumptions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first hardness result of this kind. Finally, combining our kernel with the known techniques [Adler, Kolliopoulos, Krause, Lokshtanov, Saurabh, Thilikos, JCTB'17; Schrijver, SICOMP'94] yields an alternative (and arguably simpler) proof that Planar Disjoint Paths can be solved in time $2^{O(k^2)}\cdot n^{O(1)}$, matching the result of [Lokshtanov, Misra, Pilipczuk, Saurabh, Zehavi, STOC'20].

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arXiv2023

Parameterized Results on Acyclic Matchings with Implications for Related Problems

A matching $M$ in a graph $G$ is an \emph{acyclic matching} if the subgraph of $G$ induced by the endpoints of the edges of $M$ is a forest. Given a graph $G$ and a positive integer $\ell$, Acyclic Matching asks whether $G$ has an acyclic matching of size (i.e., the number of edges) at least $\ell$. In this paper, we first prove that assuming $\mathsf{W[1]\nsubseteq FPT}$, there does not exist any $\mathsf{FPT}$-approximation algorithm for Acyclic Matching that approximates it within a constant factor when the parameter is the size of the matching. Our reduction is general in the sense that it also asserts $\mathsf{FPT}$-inapproximability for Induced Matching and Uniquely Restricted Matching as well. We also consider three below-guarantee parameters for Acyclic Matching, viz. $\frac{n}{2}-\ell$, $\mathsf{MM(G)}-\ell$, and $\mathsf{IS(G)}-\ell$, where $n$ is the number of vertices in $G$, $\mathsf{MM(G)}$ is the matching number of $G$, and $\mathsf{IS(G)}$ is the independence number of $G$. Furthermore, we show that Acyclic Matching does not exhibit a polynomial kernel with respect to vertex cover number (or vertex deletion distance to clique) plus the size of the matching unless $\mathsf{NP}\subseteq\mathsf{coNP}\slash\mathsf{poly}$.

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arXiv2023

Parameterized Analysis of the Cops and Robber Problem

\textit{Pursuit-evasion games} have been intensively studied for several decades due to their numerous applications in artificial intelligence, robot motion planning, database theory, distributed computing, and algorithmic theory. \textsc{Cops and Robber} (\CR) is one of the most well-known pursuit-evasion games played on graphs, where multiple \textit{cops} pursue a single \textit{robber}. The aim is to compute the \textit{cop number} of a graph, $k$, which is the minimum number of cops that ensures the \textit{capture} of the robber. From the viewpoint of parameterized complexity, \CR is W[2]-hard parameterized by $k$~[Fomin et al., TCS, 2010]. Thus, we study structural parameters of the input graph. We begin with the \textit{vertex cover number} ($\mathsf{vcn}$). First, we establish that $k \leq \frac{\mathsf{vcn}}{3}+1$. Second, we prove that \CR parameterized by $\mathsf{vcn}$ is \FPT by designing an exponential kernel. We complement this result by showing that it is unlikely for \CR parameterized by $\mathsf{vcn}$ to admit a polynomial compression. We extend our exponential kernels to the parameters \textit{cluster vertex deletion number} and \textit{deletion to stars number}, and design a linear vertex kernel for \textit{neighborhood diversity}. Additionally, we extend all of our results to several well-studied variations of \CR.

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arXiv2023

In Which Graph Structures Can We Efficiently Find Temporally Disjoint Paths and Walks?

A temporal graph has an edge set that may change over discrete time steps, and a temporal path (or walk) must traverse edges that appear at increasing time steps. Accordingly, two temporal paths (or walks) are temporally disjoint if they do not visit any vertex at the same time. The study of the computational complexity of finding temporally disjoint paths or walks in temporal graphs has recently been initiated by Klobas et al. [IJCAI '21]. This problem is motivated by applications in multi-agent path finding (MAPF), which include robotics, warehouse management, aircraft management, and traffic routing. We extend Klobas et al.'s research by providing parameterized hardness results for very restricted cases, with a focus on structural parameters of the so-called underlying graph. On the positive side, we identify sufficiently simple cases where we can solve the problem efficiently. Our results reveal some surprising differences between the "path version" and the "walk version" (where vertices may be visited multiple times) of the problem, and answer several open questions posed by Klobas et al.

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arXiv2023

Long Directed Detours: Reduction to $2$-Disjoint Paths

We study an "above guarantee" version of the {\sc Longest Path} problem in directed graphs: We are given a graph $G$, two vertices $s$ and $t$ of $G$, and a non-negative integer $k$, and the objective is to determine whether $G$ contains a path of length at least $dist_G(s,t) +k$ where $dist_G(s,t)$ is the length of a shortest path from $s$ to $t$ in $G$ (assuming that one exists). We show that the problem is fixed parameter tractable (FPT) parameterized by $k$ in the class of graphs where {\sc $2$-Disjoint Paths} problem is polynomial time solvable.

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arXiv2022

(Re)packing Equal Disks into Rectangle

The problem of packing of equal disks (or circles) into a rectangle is a fundamental geometric problem. (By a packing here we mean an arrangement of disks in a rectangle without overlapping.) We consider the following algorithmic generalization of the equal disk packing problem. In this problem, for a given packing of equal disks into a rectangle, the question is whether by changing positions of a small number of disks, we can allocate space for packing more disks. More formally, in the repacking problem, for a given set of $n$ equal disks packed into a rectangle and integers $k$ and $h$, we ask whether it is possible by changing positions of at most $h$ disks to pack $n+k$ disks. Thus the problem of packing equal disks is the special case of our problem with $n=h=0$. While the computational complexity of packing equal disks into a rectangle remains open, we prove that the repacking problem is NP-hard already for $h=0$. Our main algorithmic contribution is an algorithm that solves the repacking problem in time $(h+k)^{O(h+k)}\cdot |I|^{O(1)}$, where $I$ is the input size. That is, the problem is fixed-parameter tractable parameterized by $k$ and $h$.

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arXiv2022

A Framework for Approximation Schemes on Disk Graphs

We initiate a systematic study of approximation schemes for fundamental optimization problems on disk graphs, a common generalization of both planar graphs and unit-disk graphs. Our main contribution is a general framework for designing efficient polynomial-time approximation schemes (EPTASes) for vertex-deletion problems on disk graphs, which results in EPTASes for many problems including Vertex Cover, Feedback Vertex Set, Small Cycle Hitting (in particular, Triangle Hitting), $P_k$-Hitting for $k\in\{3,4,5\}$, Path Deletion, Pathwidth $1$-Deletion, Component Order Connectivity, Bounded Degree Deletion, Pseudoforest Deletion, Finite-Type Component Deletion, etc. All EPTASes obtained using our framework are robust in the sense that they do not require a realization of the input graph. To the best of our knowledge, prior to this work, the only problems known to admit (E)PTASes on disk graphs are Maximum Clique, Independent Set, Dominating set, and Vertex Cover, among which the existing PTAS [Erlebach et al., SICOMP'05] and EPTAS [Leeuwen, SWAT'06] for Vertex Cover require a realization of the input disk graph (while ours does not). The core of our framework is a reduction for a broad class of (approximation) vertex-deletion problems from (general) disk graphs to disk graphs of bounded local radius, which is a new invariant of disk graphs introduced in this work. Disk graphs of bounded local radius can be viewed as a mild generalization of planar graphs, which preserves certain nice properties of planar graphs. Specifically, we prove that disk graphs of bounded local radius admit the Excluded Grid Minor property and have locally bounded treewidth. This allows existing techniques for designing approximation schemes on planar graphs (e.g., bidimensionality and Baker's technique) to be directly applied to disk graphs of bounded local radius.

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arXiv2022

A Finite Algorithm for the Realizabilty of a Delaunay Triangulation

The \emph{Delaunay graph} of a point set $P \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$ is the plane graph with the vertex-set $P$ and the edge-set that contains $\{p,p'\}$ if there exists a disc whose intersection with $P$ is exactly $\{p,p'\}$. Accordingly, a triangulated graph $G$ is \emph{Delaunay realizable} if there exists a triangulation of the Delaunay graph of some $P \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$, called a \emph{Delaunay triangulation} of $P$, that is isomorphic to $G$. The objective of \textsc{Delaunay Realization} is to compute a point set $P \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$ that realizes a given graph $G$ (if such a $P$ exists). Known algorithms do not solve \textsc{Delaunay Realization} as they are non-constructive. Obtaining a constructive algorithm for \textsc{Delaunay Realization} was mentioned as an open problem by Hiroshima et al.~\cite{hiroshima2000}. We design an $n^{\mathcal{O}(n)}$-time constructive algorithm for \textsc{Delaunay Realization}. In fact, our algorithm outputs sets of points with {\em integer} coordinates.

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arXiv2022

Deleting, Eliminating and Decomposing to Hereditary Classes Are All FPT-Equivalent

For a graph class ${\cal H}$, the graph parameters elimination distance to ${\cal H}$ (denoted by ${\bf ed}_{\cal H}$) [Bulian and Dawar, Algorithmica, 2016], and ${\cal H}$-treewidth (denoted by ${\bf tw}_{\cal H}$) [Eiben et al. JCSS, 2021] aim to minimize the treedepth and treewidth, respectively, of the "torso" of the graph induced on a modulator to the graph class ${\cal H}$. Here, the torso of a vertex set $S$ in a graph $G$ is the graph with vertex set $S$ and an edge between two vertices $u, v \in S$ if there is a path between $u$ and $v$ in $G$ whose internal vertices all lie outside $S$. In this paper, we show that from the perspective of (non-uniform) fixed-parameter tractability (FPT), the three parameters described above give equally powerful parameterizations for every hereditary graph class ${\cal H}$ that satisfies mild additional conditions. In fact, we show that for every hereditary graph class ${\cal H}$ satisfying mild additional conditions, with the exception of ${\bf tw}_{\cal H}$ parameterized by ${\bf ed}_{\cal H}$, for every pair of these parameters, computing one parameterized by itself or any of the others is FPT-equivalent to the standard vertex-deletion (to ${\cal H}$) problem. As an example, we prove that an FPT algorithm for the vertex-deletion problem implies a non-uniform FPT algorithm for computing ${\bf ed}_{\cal H}$ and ${\bf tw}_{\cal H}$. The conclusions of non-uniform FPT algorithms being somewhat unsatisfactory, we essentially prove that if ${\cal H}$ is hereditary, union-closed, CMSO-definable, and (a) the canonical equivalence relation (or any refinement thereof) for membership in the class can be efficiently computed, or (b) the class admits a "strong irrelevant vertex rule", then there exists a uniform FPT algorithm for ${\bf ed}_{\cal H}$.

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arXiv2021

The complexity of high-dimensional cuts

Cut problems form one of the most fundamental classes of problems in algorithmic graph theory. For instance, the minimum cut, the minimum $s$-$t$ cut, the minimum multiway cut, and the minimum $k$-way cut are some of the commonly encountered cut problems. Many of these problems have been extensively studied over several decades. In this paper, we initiate the algorithmic study of some cut problems in high dimensions. The first problem we study, namely, Topological Hitting Set (THS), is defined as follows: Given a nontrivial $r$-cycle $ζ$ in a simplicial complex $\mathsf{K}$, find a set $\mathcal{S}$ of $r$-dimensional simplices of minimum cardinality so that $\mathcal{S}$ meets every cycle homologous to $ζ$. Our main result is that this problem admits a polynomial-time solution on triangulations of closed surfaces. Interestingly, the optimal solution is given in terms of the cocycles of the surface. For general complexes, we show that THS is W[1]-hard with respect to the solution size $k$. On the positive side, we show that THS admits an FPT algorithm with respect to $k+d$, where $d$ is the maximum degree of the Hasse graph of the complex $\mathsf{K}$. We also define a problem called Boundary Nontrivialization (BNT): Given a bounding $r$-cycle $ζ$ in a simplicial complex $\mathsf{K}$, find a set $\mathcal{S}$ of $(r+1)$-dimensional simplices of minimum cardinality so that the removal of $\mathcal{S}$ from $\mathsf{K}$ makes $ζ$ non-bounding. We show that BNT is W[1]-hard with respect to the solution size as the parameter, and has an $O(\log n)$-approximation FPT algorithm for $(r+1)$-dimensional complexes with the $(r+1)$-th Betti number $β_{r+1}$ as the parameter. Finally, we provide randomized (approximation) FPT algorithms for the global variants of THS and BNT.

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arXiv2021

Grid Recognition: Classical and Parameterized Computational Perspectives

Grid graphs, and, more generally, $k\times r$ grid graphs, form one of the most basic classes of geometric graphs. Over the past few decades, a large body of works studied the (in)tractability of various computational problems on grid graphs, which often yield substantially faster algorithms than general graphs. Unfortunately, the recognition of a grid graph is particularly hard -- it was shown to be NP-hard even on trees of pathwidth 3 already in 1987. Yet, in this paper, we provide several positive results in this regard in the framework of parameterized complexity (additionally, we present new and complementary hardness results). Specifically, our contribution is threefold. First, we show that the problem is fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) parameterized by $k+\mathsf {mcc}$ where $\mathsf{mcc}$ is the maximum size of a connected component of $G$. This also implies that the problem is FPT parameterized by $\mathtt{td}+k$ where $\mathtt{td}$ is the treedepth of $G$ (to be compared with the hardness for pathwidth 2 where $k=3$). Further, we derive as a corollary that strip packing is FPT with respect to the height of the strip plus the maximum of the dimensions of the packed rectangles, which was previously only known to be in XP. Second, we present a new parameterization, denoted $a_G$, relating graph distance to geometric distance, which may be of independent interest. We show that the problem is para-NP-hard parameterized by $a_G$, but FPT parameterized by $a_G$ on trees, as well as FPT parameterized by $k+a_G$. Third, we show that the recognition of $k\times r$ grid graphs is NP-hard on graphs of pathwidth 2 where $k=3$. Moreover, when $k$ and $r$ are unrestricted, we show that the problem is NP-hard on trees of pathwidth 2, but trivially solvable in polynomial time on graphs of pathwidth 1.

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arXiv2021

Verification of Multi-Layered Assignment Problems

The class of assignment problems is a fundamental and well-studied class in the intersection of Social Choice, Computational Economics and Discrete Allocation. In a general assignment problem, a group of agents expresses preferences over a set of items, and the task is to allocate items to agents in an "optimal" way. A verification variant of this problem includes an allocation as part of the input, and the question becomes whether this allocation is "optimal". In this paper, we generalize the verification variant to the setting where each agent is equipped with multiple incomplete preference lists: Each list (called a layer) is a ranking of items in a possibly different way according to a different criterion. In particular, we introduce three multi-layer verification problems, each corresponds to an optimality notion that weakens the notion of global optimality (that is, pareto optimality in multiple layers) in a different way. Informally, the first notion requires that, for each group of agents whose size is exactly some input parameter k, the agents in the group will not be able to trade their assigned items among themselves and benefit in at least alpha layers; the second notion is similar, but it concerns all groups of size at most k rather than exactly k; the third notion strengthens these notions by requiring that groups of k agents will not be part of possibly larger groups that benefit in at least alpha layers. We study the three problems from the perspective of parameterized complexity under several natural parameterizations such as the number of layers, the number of agents, the number of items, the number of allocated items, the maximum length of a preference list, and more. We present an almost comprehensive picture of the parameterized complexity of the problems with respect to these parameters.

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arXiv2021

Parameterized Analysis of Assignment Under Multiple Preferences

The Assignment problem is a fundamental and well-studied problem in the intersection of Social Choice, Computational Economics and Discrete Allocation. In the Assignment problem, a group of agents expresses preferences over a set of items, and the task is to find a pareto optimal allocation of items to agents. We introduce a generalized version of this problem, where each agent is equipped with multiple incomplete preference lists: each list (called a layer) is a ranking of items in a possibly different way according to a different criterion. We introduce the concept of global optimality, which extends the notion of pareto optimality to the multi-layered setting, and we focus on the problem of deciding whether a globally optimal assignment exists. We study this problem from the perspective of Parameterized Complexity: we consider several natural parameters such as the number of layers, the number of agents, the number of items, and the maximum length of a preference list. We present a comprehensive picture of the parameterized complexity of the problem with respect to these parameters.

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arXiv2021

An Exponential Time Parameterized Algorithm for Planar Disjoint Paths

In the Disjoint Paths problem, the input is an undirected graph $G$ on $n$ vertices and a set of $k$ vertex pairs, $\{s_i,t_i\}_{i=1}^k$, and the task is to find $k$ pairwise vertex-disjoint paths connecting $s_i$ to $t_i$. The problem was shown to have an $f(k)n^3$ algorithm by Robertson and Seymour. In modern terminology, this means that Disjoint Paths is fixed parameter tractable (FPT), parameterized by the number of vertex pairs. This algorithm is the cornerstone of the entire graph minor theory, and a vital ingredient in the $g(k)n^3$ algorithm for Minor Testing (given two undirected graphs, $G$ and $H$ on $n$ and $k$ vertices, respectively, the objective is to check whether $G$ contains $H$ as a minor). All we know about $f$ and $g$ is that these are computable functions. Thus, a challenging open problem in graph algorithms is to devise an algorithm for Disjoint Paths where $f$ is single exponential. That is, $f$ is of the form $2^{{\sf poly}(k)}$. The algorithm of Robertson and Seymour relies on topology and essentially reduces the problem to surface-embedded graphs. Thus, the first major obstacle that has to be overcome in order to get an algorithm with a single exponential running time for Disjoint Paths and {\sf Minor Testing} on general graphs is to solve Disjoint Paths in single exponential time on surface-embedded graphs and in particular on planar graphs. Even when the inputs to Disjoint Paths are restricted to planar graphs, a case called the Planar Disjoint Paths problem, the best known algorithm has running time $2^{2^{O(k)}}n^2$. In this paper, we make the first step towards our quest for designing a single exponential time algorithm for Disjoint Paths by giving a $2^{O(k^2)}n^{O(1)}$-time algorithm for Planar Disjoint Paths.

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