Planar feedback vertex set and face cover: Combinatorial bounds and subexponential algorithms

Athanassios Koutsonas, Dimitrios M. Thilikos

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

Abstract

The Planar Feedback Vertex Set problem asks, whether an n-vertex planar graph contains at most k vertices meeting all its cycles. The Face Cover problem asks, whether all vertices of a plane graph G lie on the boundary of at most k faces of G. Standard techniques from parameterized algorithm design indicate, that both problems can be solved by sub-exponential parameterized algorithms (where k is the parameter). In this paper, we improve the algorithmic analysis of both problems by proving a series of combinatorial results, relating the branchwidth of planar graphs with their face cover. Combining this fact with duality properties of branchwidth, allows us to derive analogous results on feedback vertex set. As a consequence, it follows that Planar Feedback Vertex Set and Face Cover can be solved in and steps, respectively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGraph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science - 34th International Workshop, WG 2008, Revised Papers
Pages264-274
Number of pages11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Event34th International Workshop on Graph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science, WG 2008 - Durham, United Kingdom
Duration: Jun 30 2008Jul 2 2008

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume5344 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference34th International Workshop on Graph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science, WG 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityDurham
Period6/30/087/2/08

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Planar feedback vertex set and face cover: Combinatorial bounds and subexponential algorithms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this