arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Sascha Kurz.
We consider so-called squaring the square-puzzles where a given square (or rectangle) should be dissected into smaller squares. For a specific instance of such problems we demonstrate that a mathematically rigorous solution can be quite involved. As an alternative to exhaustive enumeration using tailored algorithms we describe the general approach of formulating the problem as an integer linear program.
Fashion discounters face the problem of ordering the right amount of pieces in each size of a product. The product is ordered in pre-packs containing a certain size-mix of a product. For this so-called lot-type design problem, a stochastic mixed integer linear programm was developed, in which price cuts serve as recourse action for oversupply. Our goal is to answer the question, whether the resulting supply strategy leads to a supply that is significantly more consistent with the demand for sizes compared to the original manual planning. Since the total profit is influenced by too many factors unrelated to sizes (like the popularity of the product, the weather or a changing economic situation), we suggest a comparison method which excludes many outer effects by construction. We apply the method to a real-world field study: The improvements in the size distributions of the supply are significant.
We consider the problem of approximating the branch and size dependent demand of a fashion discounter with many branches by a distributing process being based on the branch delivery restricted to integral multiples of lots from a small set of available lot-types. We propose a formalized model which arises from a practical cooperation with an industry partner. Besides an integer linear programming formulation we provide an appropriate primal heuristic for this problem.
We consider point sets in $\mathbb{Z}_n^2$ where no three points are on a line - also called caps or arcs. For the determination of caps with maximum cardinality and complete caps with minimum cardinality we provide integer linear programming formulations and identify some values for small $n$.
We consider point sets in the $m$-dimensional affine space $\mathbb{F}_q^m$ where each squared Euclidean distance of two points is a square in $\mathbb{F}_q$. It turns out that the situation in $\mathbb{F}_q^m$ is rather similar to the one of integral distances in Euclidean spaces. Therefore we expect the results over finite fields to be useful for the Euclidean case. We completely determine the automorphism group of these spaces which preserves integral distances. For some small parameters $m$ and $q$ we determine the maximum cardinality $\mathcal{I}(m,q)$ of integral point sets in $\mathbb{F}_q^m$. We provide upper bounds and lower bounds on $\mathcal{I}(m,q)$. If we map integral distances to edges in a graph, we can define a graph $\mathfrak{G}_{m,q}$ with vertex set $\mathbb{F}_q^m$. It turns out that $\mathfrak{G}_{m,q}$ is strongly regular for some cases.
We consider 3-regular planar matchstick graphs, i.e. those which have a planar embedding such that all edge lengths are equal, with given girth g. For girth 3 it is known that such graphs exist if and only if the number of vertices n is an even integer larger or equal to 8. Here we prove that such graphs exist for girth g=4 if and only if n is even and at least 20. We provide an example for girth g=5 consisting of 180 vertices.
A graph G=(V,E) is called a unit-distance graph in the plane if there is an injective embedding of V in the plane such that every pair of adjacent vertices are at unit distance apart. If additionally the corresponding edges are non-crossing and all vertices have the same degree r we talk of a regular matchstick graph. Due to Euler's polyhedron formula we have $r\le 5$. The smallest known 4-regular matchstick graph is the so called Harborth graph consisting of 52 vertices. In this article we prove that no finite 5-regular matchstick graph exists and provide a lower bound for the number of vertices of 4-regular matchstick graphs.
We study criteria attesting that a given graph can not be embedded in the plane so that neighboring vertices are at unit distance apart and the straight line edges do not cross.
We perform an exhaustive search for the minimum 4-regular unit distance graph resulting in a lower bound of 34 vertices.
We give an elementary proof of a conjecture by Hegselmann and Krause in opinion dynamics, concerning a symmetric bounded confidence interval model: If there is a truth and all individuals take each other seriously by a positive amount bounded away from zero, then all truth seekers will converge to the truth. Here truth seekers are the individuals which are attracted by the truth by a positive amount. In the absence of truth seekers it was already shown by Hegselmann and Krause that the opinions of the individuals converge.
It is shown that the maximal size of a $2$-arc in the projective Hjelmslev plane over $\mathbb{Z}_{25}$ is $21$, and the $(21,2)$-arc is unique up to isomorphism. Furthermore, all maximal $(20,2)$-arcs in the affine Hjelmslev plane over $\mathbb{Z}_{25}$ are classified up to isomorphism.
Motivated by integral point sets in the Euclidean plane, we consider integral point sets in affine planes over finite fields. An integral point set is a set of points in the affine plane $\mathbb{F}_q^2$ over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$, where the formally defined squared Euclidean distance of every pair of points is a square in $\mathbb{F}_q$. It turns out that integral point sets over $\mathbb{F}_q$ can also be characterized as affine point sets determining certain prescribed directions, which gives a relation to the work of Blokhuis. Furthermore, in one important sub-case integral point sets can be restated as cliques in Paley graphs of square order. In this article we give new results on the automorphisms of integral point sets and classify maximal integral point sets over $\mathbb{F}_q$ for $q\le 47$. Furthermore, we give two series of maximal integral point sets and prove their maximality.
We describe several algorithms for the generation of integer Heronian triangles with diameter at most $n$. Two of them have running time $\mathcal{O}\left(n^{2+\varepsilon}\right)$. We enumerate all integer Heronian triangles for $n\le 600000$ and apply the complete list on some related problems.
A graph $G=(V,E)$ is called a unit-distance graph in the plane if there is an injective embedding of $V$ in the plane such that every pair of adjacent vertices are at unit distance apart. If additionally the corresponding edges are non-crossing and all vertices have the same degree $r$ we talk of a regular matchstick graph. Due to Euler's polyhedron formula we have $r\le 5$. The smallest known $4$-regular matchstick graph is the so called Harborth graph consisting of $52$ vertices. In this article we prove that no finite $5$-regular matchstick graph exists.
Important decisions are likely made by groups of agents. Thus group decision making is very common in practice. Very transparent group aggregating rules are given by weighted voting, where each agent is assigned a weight. Here a proposal is accepted if the sum of the weights of the supporting agents meets or exceeds a given quota. We study a more general class of binary voting systems -- complete simple games -- and propose an algorithm to determine which sub classes, parameterized by the agent's type composition, are weighted.
Classical power index analysis considers the individual's ability to influence the aggregated group decision by changing its own vote, where all decisions and votes are assumed to be binary. In many practical applications we have more options than either "yes" or "no". Here we generalize three important power indices to continuous convex policy spaces. This allows the analysis of a collection of economic problems like e.g. tax rates or spending that otherwise would not be covered in binary models.
A set of $n$-lattice points in the plane, no three on a line and no four on a circle, such that all pairwise distances and all coordinates are integral is called an $n$-cluster (in $\mathbb{R}^2$). We determine the smallest existent $7$-cluster with respect to its diameter. Additionally we provide a toolbox of algorithms which allowed us to computationally locate over 1000 different $7$-clusters, some of them having huge integer edge lengths. On the way, we exhaustively determined all Heronian triangles with largest edge length up to $6\cdot 10^6$.
We introduce the prediction value (PV) as a measure of players' informational importance in probabilistic TU games. The latter combine a standard TU game and a probability distribution over the set of coalitions. Player $i$'s prediction value equals the difference between the conditional expectations of $v(S)$ when $i$ cooperates or not. We characterize the prediction value as a special member of the class of (extended) values which satisfy anonymity, linearity and a consistency property. Every $n$-player binomial semivalue coincides with the PV for a particular family of probability distributions over coalitions. The PV can thus be regarded as a power index in specific cases. Conversely, some semivalues -- including the Banzhaf but not the Shapley value -- can be interpreted in terms of informational importance.