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A Faster Algorithm for Vertex Cover Parameterized by Solution Size

Authors David G. Harris , N. S. Narayanaswamy

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Author Details

David G. Harris
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
N. S. Narayanaswamy
  • Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India

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David G. Harris and N. S. Narayanaswamy. A Faster Algorithm for Vertex Cover Parameterized by Solution Size. In 41st International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 289, pp. 40:1-40:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)
https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2024.40

Abstract

We describe a new algorithm for vertex cover with runtime O^*(1.25284^k), where k is the size of the desired solution and O^* hides polynomial factors in the input size. This improves over the previous runtime of O^*(1.2738^k) due to Chen, Kanj, & Xia (2010) standing for more than a decade. The key to our algorithm is to use a measure which simultaneously tracks k as well as the optimal value λ of the vertex cover LP relaxation. This allows us to make use of prior algorithms for Maximum Independent Set in bounded-degree graphs and Above-Guarantee Vertex Cover. The main step in the algorithm is to branch on high-degree vertices, while ensuring that both k and μ = k - λ are decreased at each step. There can be local obstructions in the graph that prevent μ from decreasing in this process; we develop a number of novel branching steps to handle these situations.

Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Theory of computation → Graph algorithms analysis
Keywords
  • Vertex cover
  • FPT
  • Graph algorithm

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