Document Open Access Logo

On the Complexity Dichotomy for the Satisfiability of Systems of Term Equations over Finite Algebras

Author Peter Mayr

PDF

File

Thumbnail PDF
PDF
LIPIcs.MFCS.2023.66.pdf
  • Filesize: 0.64 MB
  • 12 pages

Document Identifiers

Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Theory of computation → Problems, reductions and completeness
Keywords
  • systems of equations
  • general algebras
  • constraint satisfaction

Metrics

  • Access Statistics
  • Total Accesses (updated on a weekly basis)
    0
    PDF Downloads
    0
    Metadata Views

Abstract

For a fixed finite algebra 𝐀, we consider the decision problem SysTerm(𝐀): does a given system of term equations have a solution in 𝐀? This is equivalent to a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) for a relational structure whose relations are the graphs of the basic operations of 𝐀. From the complexity dichotomy for CSP over fixed finite templates due to Bulatov [Bulatov, 2017] and Zhuk [Zhuk, 2017], it follows that SysTerm(𝐀) for a finite algebra 𝐀 is in P if 𝐀 has a not necessarily idempotent Taylor polymorphism and is NP-complete otherwise. More explicitly, we show that for a finite algebra 𝐀 in a congruence modular variety (e.g. for a quasigroup), SysTerm(𝐀) is in P if the core of 𝐀 is abelian and is NP-complete otherwise. Given 𝐀 by the graphs of its basic operations, we show that this condition for tractability can be decided in quasi-polynomial time.

Cite As Get BibTex

Peter Mayr. On the Complexity Dichotomy for the Satisfiability of Systems of Term Equations over Finite Algebras. In 48th International Symposium on Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science (MFCS 2023). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 272, pp. 66:1-66:12, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023) https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.MFCS.2023.66

Author Details

Peter Mayr
  • Department of Mathematics, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
  • Institute for Algebra, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria

Funding

Partially supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): P33878.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank E. Aichinger for discussions on this problem and the referees for their diligent reading and comments.

References

  1. L. Barto, A. Krokhin, and R. Willard. Polymorphisms, and how to use them. In Andrei A. Krokhin and Stanislav Zivný, editors, The Constraint Satisfaction Problem: Complexity and Approximability, volume 7 of Dagstuhl Follow-Ups, pages 1-44. Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik, 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.4230/DFU.Vol7.15301.1.
  2. C. Bergman. Universal algebra, volume 301 of Pure and Applied Mathematics (Boca Raton). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2012. Fundamentals and selected topics. Google Scholar
  3. P. Broniek. Computational complexity of solving equation systems. SpringerBriefs in Philosophy. Springer, Cham, 2015. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21750-5.
  4. A. Bulatov. A dichotomy theorem for nonuniform CSPs. In Chris Umans, editor, 58th IEEE Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2017, Berkeley, CA, USA, October 15-17, 2017, pages 319-330. IEEE Computer Society, 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.1109/FOCS.2017.37.
  5. S. Burris and H. P. Sankappanavar. A course in universal algebra. Springer New York Heidelberg Berlin, 1981. Google Scholar
  6. H. Chen and B. Larose. Asking the metaquestions in constraint tractability. ACM Trans. Comput. Theory, 9(3):Art. 11, 27, 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.1145/3134757.
  7. W. DeMeo, R. Freese, and M. Valeriote. Polynomial-time tests for difference terms in idempotent varieties. Internat. J. Algebra Comput., 29(6):927-949, 2019. URL: https://doi.org/10.1142/S021819671950036X.
  8. T. Feder and M. Vardi. The computational structure of monotone monadic SNP and constraint satisfaction: a study through Datalog and group theory. SIAM J. Comput., 28(1):57-104 (electronic), 1999. URL: https://doi.org/10.1137/S0097539794266766.
  9. R. Freese and R. N. McKenzie. Commutator Theory for Congruence Modular Varieties, volume 125 of London Math. Soc. Lecture Note Ser. Cambridge University Press, 1987. Available from ěrb+http://math.hawaii.edu/ ralph/Commutator/comm.pdf+. Google Scholar
  10. R. Freese and M. A. Valeriote. On the complexity of some Maltsev conditions. Internat. J. Algebra Comput., 19(1):41-77, 2009. URL: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218196709004956.
  11. M. Goldmann and A. Russell. The complexity of solving equations over finite groups. Inf. Comput., 178(1):253-262, 2002. URL: https://doi.org/10.1006/inco.2002.3173.
  12. D. Hobby and R. McKenzie. The structure of finite algebras, volume 76 of Contemporary mathematics. American Mathematical Society, 1988. Google Scholar
  13. K. Kearnes, P. Marković, and R. McKenzie. Optimal strong Mal'cev conditions for omitting type 1 in locally finite varieties. Algebra Universalis, 72(1):91-100, 2014. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00012-014-0289-9.
  14. O. Klíma, P. Tesson, and D. Thérien. Dichotomies in the complexity of solving systems of equations over finite semigroups. Theory Comput. Syst., 40(3):263-297, 2007. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00224-005-1279-2.
  15. B. Larose and L. Zádori. Taylor terms, constraint satisfaction and the complexity of polynomial equations over finite algebras. Internat. J. Algebra Comput., 16(3):563-581, 2006. URL: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218196706003116.
  16. R. N. McKenzie, G. F. McNulty, and W. F. Taylor. Algebras, lattices, varieties, Volume I. Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole Advanced Books & Software, Monterey, California, 1987. Google Scholar
  17. M. Siggers. A strong Mal'cev condition for locally finite varieties omitting the unary type. Algebra Universalis, 64(1-2):15-20, 2010. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00012-010-0082-3.
  18. D. Zhuk. A proof of CSP dichotomy conjecture. In Chris Umans, editor, 58th IEEE Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2017, Berkeley, CA, USA, October 15-17, 2017, pages 331-342. IEEE Computer Society, 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.1109/FOCS.2017.38.
Any Issues?
X

Feedback on the Current Page

CAPTCHA

Thanks for your feedback!

Feedback submitted to Dagstuhl Publishing

Could not send message

Please try again later or send an E-mail
© 2023-2025 Schloss Dagstuhl – LZI GmbH About DROPS Imprint Privacy Contact