Faster exact and approximate algorithms for k-cut

Anupam Gupta, Euiwoong Lee, Jason Li

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In the k-cut problem, we are given an edge-weighted graph G and an integer k, and have to remove a set of edges with minimum total weight so that G has at least k connected components. The current best algorithms are an O(n (2-o(1))k ) randomized algorithm due to Karger and Stein, and an Õ(n 2k ) deterministic algorithm due to Thorup. Moreover, several 2-approximation algorithms are known for the problem (due to Saran and Vazirani, Naor and Rabani, and Ravi and Sinha). It has remained an open problem to (a) improve the runtime of exact algorithms, and (b) to get better approximation algorithms. In this paper we show an O(k O(k) n (2ω/3+o(1))k )-time algorithm for k-CUT. Moreover, we show an (1 + ϵ)-approximation algorithm that runs in time O((k/ϵ) O(k) n k+O(1) ), and a 1.81-approximation in fixed-parameter time O(2 O(k) poly(n)).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 59th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2018
EditorsMikkel Thorup
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages113-123
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9781538642306
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 30 2018
Event59th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2018 - Paris, France
Duration: Oct 7 2018Oct 9 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings - Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS
Volume2018-October
ISSN (Print)0272-5428

Other

Other59th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2018
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period10/7/1810/9/18

Keywords

  • Approximation algorithms
  • Graph algorithms
  • Minimum k-cut
  • Parameterized algorithm

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science

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