LIPIcs.SWAT.2024.28.pdf
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For an optimization problem Π on graphs whose solutions are vertex sets, a vertex v is called c-essential for Π if all solutions of size at most c ⋅ opt contain v. Recent work showed that polynomial-time algorithms to detect c-essential vertices can be used to reduce the search space of fixed-parameter tractable algorithms solving such problems parameterized by the size k of the solution. We provide several new upper- and lower bounds for detecting essential vertices. For example, we give a polynomial-time algorithm for 3-Essential detection for Vertex Multicut, which translates into an algorithm that finds a minimum multicut of an undirected n-vertex graph G in time 2^𝒪(𝓁³)⋅n^𝒪(1), where 𝓁 is the number of vertices in an optimal solution that are not 3-essential. Our positive results are obtained by analyzing the integrality gaps of certain linear programs. Our lower bounds show that for sufficiently small values of c, the detection task becomes NP-hard assuming the Unique Games Conjecture. For example, we show that (2-ε)-Essential detection for Directed Feedback Vertex Set is NP-hard under this conjecture, thereby proving that the existing algorithm that detects 2-essential vertices is best-possible.
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