Computational Complexity of Counting and Sampling


Book Description

Computational Complexity of Counting and Sampling provides readers with comprehensive and detailed coverage of the subject of computational complexity. It is primarily geared toward researchers in enumerative combinatorics, discrete mathematics, and theoretical computer science. The book covers the following topics: Counting and sampling problems that are solvable in polynomial running time, including holographic algorithms; #P-complete counting problems; and approximation algorithms for counting and sampling. First, it opens with the basics, such as the theoretical computer science background and dynamic programming algorithms. Later, the book expands its scope to focus on advanced topics, like stochastic approximations of counting discrete mathematical objects and holographic algorithms. After finishing the book, readers will agree that the subject is well covered, as the book starts with the basics and gradually explores the more complex aspects of the topic. Features: Each chapter includes exercises and solutions Ideally written for researchers and scientists Covers all aspects of the topic, beginning with a solid introduction, before shifting to computational complexity’s more advanced features, with a focus on counting and sampling




Counting, Sampling and Integrating: Algorithms and Complexity


Book Description

The subject of these notes is counting and related topics, viewed from a computational perspective. A major theme of the book is the idea of accumulating information about a set of combinatorial structures by performing a random walk on those structures. These notes will be of value not only to teachers of postgraduate courses on these topics, but also to established researchers. For the first time this body of knowledge has been brought together in a single volume.




Computational Complexity


Book Description

New and classical results in computational complexity, including interactive proofs, PCP, derandomization, and quantum computation. Ideal for graduate students.




Handbook of Satisfiability


Book Description

Propositional logic has been recognized throughout the centuries as one of the cornerstones of reasoning in philosophy and mathematics. Over time, its formalization into Boolean algebra was accompanied by the recognition that a wide range of combinatorial problems can be expressed as propositional satisfiability (SAT) problems. Because of this dual role, SAT developed into a mature, multi-faceted scientific discipline, and from the earliest days of computing a search was underway to discover how to solve SAT problems in an automated fashion. This book, the Handbook of Satisfiability, is the second, updated and revised edition of the book first published in 2009 under the same name. The handbook aims to capture the full breadth and depth of SAT and to bring together significant progress and advances in automated solving. Topics covered span practical and theoretical research on SAT and its applications and include search algorithms, heuristics, analysis of algorithms, hard instances, randomized formulae, problem encodings, industrial applications, solvers, simplifiers, tools, case studies and empirical results. SAT is interpreted in a broad sense, so as well as propositional satisfiability, there are chapters covering the domain of quantified Boolean formulae (QBF), constraints programming techniques (CSP) for word-level problems and their propositional encoding, and satisfiability modulo theories (SMT). An extensive bibliography completes each chapter. This second edition of the handbook will be of interest to researchers, graduate students, final-year undergraduates, and practitioners using or contributing to SAT, and will provide both an inspiration and a rich resource for their work. Edmund Clarke, 2007 ACM Turing Award Recipient: "SAT solving is a key technology for 21st century computer science." Donald Knuth, 1974 ACM Turing Award Recipient: "SAT is evidently a killer app, because it is key to the solution of so many other problems." Stephen Cook, 1982 ACM Turing Award Recipient: "The SAT problem is at the core of arguably the most fundamental question in computer science: What makes a problem hard?"




Tutorials on the Foundations of Cryptography


Book Description

This is a graduate textbook of advanced tutorials on the theory of cryptography and computational complexity. In particular, the chapters explain aspects of garbled circuits, public-key cryptography, pseudorandom functions, one-way functions, homomorphic encryption, the simulation proof technique, and the complexity of differential privacy. Most chapters progress methodically through motivations, foundations, definitions, major results, issues surrounding feasibility, surveys of recent developments, and suggestions for further study. This book honors Professor Oded Goldreich, a pioneering scientist, educator, and mentor. Oded was instrumental in laying down the foundations of cryptography, and he inspired the contributing authors, Benny Applebaum, Boaz Barak, Andrej Bogdanov, Iftach Haitner, Shai Halevi, Yehuda Lindell, Alon Rosen, and Salil Vadhan, themselves leading researchers on the theory of cryptography and computational complexity. The book is appropriate for graduate tutorials and seminars, and for self-study by experienced researchers, assuming prior knowledge of the theory of cryptography.




Mathematics and Computation


Book Description

From the winner of the Turing Award and the Abel Prize, an introduction to computational complexity theory, its connections and interactions with mathematics, and its central role in the natural and social sciences, technology, and philosophy Mathematics and Computation provides a broad, conceptual overview of computational complexity theory—the mathematical study of efficient computation. With important practical applications to computer science and industry, computational complexity theory has evolved into a highly interdisciplinary field, with strong links to most mathematical areas and to a growing number of scientific endeavors. Avi Wigderson takes a sweeping survey of complexity theory, emphasizing the field’s insights and challenges. He explains the ideas and motivations leading to key models, notions, and results. In particular, he looks at algorithms and complexity, computations and proofs, randomness and interaction, quantum and arithmetic computation, and cryptography and learning, all as parts of a cohesive whole with numerous cross-influences. Wigderson illustrates the immense breadth of the field, its beauty and richness, and its diverse and growing interactions with other areas of mathematics. He ends with a comprehensive look at the theory of computation, its methodology and aspirations, and the unique and fundamental ways in which it has shaped and will further shape science, technology, and society. For further reading, an extensive bibliography is provided for all topics covered. Mathematics and Computation is useful for undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics, computer science, and related fields, as well as researchers and teachers in these fields. Many parts require little background, and serve as an invitation to newcomers seeking an introduction to the theory of computation. Comprehensive coverage of computational complexity theory, and beyond High-level, intuitive exposition, which brings conceptual clarity to this central and dynamic scientific discipline Historical accounts of the evolution and motivations of central concepts and models A broad view of the theory of computation's influence on science, technology, and society Extensive bibliography




Computational Complexity


Book Description

This book offers a comprehensive perspective to modern topics in complexity theory, which is a central field of the theoretical foundations of computer science. It addresses the looming question of what can be achieved within a limited amount of time with or without other limited natural computational resources. Can be used as an introduction for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as either a textbook or for self-study, or to experts, since it provides expositions of the various sub-areas of complexity theory such as hardness amplification, pseudorandomness and probabilistic proof systems.




Computational Complexity


Book Description

This beginning graduate textbook describes both recent achievements and classical results of computational complexity theory. Requiring essentially no background apart from mathematical maturity, the book can be used as a reference for self-study for anyone interested in complexity, including physicists, mathematicians, and other scientists, as well as a textbook for a variety of courses and seminars. More than 300 exercises are included with a selected hint set. The book starts with a broad introduction to the field and progresses to advanced results. Contents include: definition of Turing machines and basic time and space complexity classes, probabilistic algorithms, interactive proofs, cryptography, quantum computation, lower bounds for concrete computational models (decision trees, communication complexity, constant depth, algebraic and monotone circuits, proof complexity), average-case complexity and hardness amplification, derandomization and pseudorandom constructions, and the PCP theorem.




Modeling Decisions for Artificial Intelligence


Book Description

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Modeling Decisions for Artificial Intelligence, MDAI 2015, held in Skövde, Sweden, in September 2015. The 18 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 38 submissions. They discuss theory and tools for modeling decisions, as well as applications that encompass decision making processes and information fusion techniques.




Computing and Combinatorics


Book Description

This two volume set LNCS 14422-14423 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 29th International Conference, COCOON 2023, held in Hawaii, HI, USA, during December 2023. The 60 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 146 submissions. They are organized in the following topical sections: Part I : Combinatorics and Algorithms; Algorithmic Solution in Applications; and Algorithm in Networks. Part II: Complexity and Approximation; Graph Algorithms; and Applied Algorithms.