DROPS

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DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.52

Upper and Lower Bounds for the Linear Ordering Principle

Authors: Edward A. Hirsch and Ilya Volkovich

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 364, 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)

Abstract

Korten and Pitassi (FOCS, 2024) defined a new complexity class L₂^P as the polynomial-time Turing closure of the Linear Ordering Principle (a total function extending finding the minimum of an order [M. Chiari and J. Krajíček, 1998] to the case where the order is not linear). They put it between MA (Merlin-Arthur protocols) and S₂^P (the second symmetric level of the polynomial hierarchy). In this paper we sandwich L₂^P between P^prMA and P^prSBP. (The oracles here are promise problems, and SBP is the only known class between MA and AM.) The containment in P^prSBP is proved via an iterative process that uses a prSBP oracle to estimate the average order rank of a subset and find the minimum of a linear order. Another containment result of this paper is P^prO₂^P ⊆ O₂^P (where O₂^P is the input-oblivious version of S₂^P). These containment results altogether have several byproducts: - We give an affirmative answer to an open question posed by Chakaravarthy and Roy (Computational Complexity, 2011) whether P^prMA ⊆ S₂^P, thereby settling the relative standing of the existing (non-oblivious) Karp–Lipton–style collapse results of [V. T. Chakaravarthy and S. Roy, 2011] and [J.-Y. Cai, 2007], - We give an affirmative answer to an open question of Korten and Pitassi whether a Karp-Lipton-style collapse can be proven for L₂^P, - We show that the Karp-Lipton-style collapse to P^prOMA is actually better than both known collapses to P^prMA due to Chakaravarthy and Roy (Computational Complexity, 2011) and to O₂^P also due to Chakaravarthy and Roy (STACS, 2006). Thus we resolve the controversy between previously incomparable Karp-Lipton collapses stemming from these two lines of research.

Cite as

Edward A. Hirsch and Ilya Volkovich. Upper and Lower Bounds for the Linear Ordering Principle. In 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 364, pp. 52:1-52:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{hirsch_et_al:LIPIcs.STACS.2026.52,
  author =	{Hirsch, Edward A. and Volkovich, Ilya},
  title =	{{Upper and Lower Bounds for the Linear Ordering Principle}},
  booktitle =	{43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)},
  pages =	{52:1--52:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-412-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{364},
  editor =	{Mahajan, Meena and Manea, Florin and McIver, Annabelle and Thắng, Nguy\~{ê}n Kim},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.52},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-255410},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.52},
  annote =	{Keywords: Complexity Classes, Structural Complexity Theory, Linear Ordering Principle, Symmetric Alternation, Merlin-Arthur Protocols, Karp-Lipton Collapse}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.8

Intersection Theorems: A Potential Approach to Proof Complexity Lower Bounds

Authors: Yaroslav Alekseev and Nikita Gaevoy

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract

Recently, Göös et al. [Göös et al., 2024] showed that Res ⋏ uSA = RevRes in the following sense: if a formula φ has refutations of size at most s and width/degree at most w in both Res and uSA, then there is a refutation for φ of size at most poly(s ⋅ 2^w) in RevRes. Their proof relies on the TFNP characterization of the aforementioned proof systems. In our work, we give a direct and simplified proof of this result, simultaneously achieving better bounds: we show that if for a formula φ there are refutations of size at most s in both Res and uSA, then there is a refutation of φ of size at most poly(s) in RevRes. This potentially allows us to "lift" size lower bounds from RevRes to Res for the formulas for which there are upper bounds in uSA. This kind of lifting was not possible before because of the exponential blow-up in size from the width. Similarly, we improve the bounds in another intersection theorem from [Göös et al., 2024] by giving a direct proof of Res ⋏ uNS = RevResT. Finally, we generalize those intersection theorems to some proof systems for which we currently do not have a TFNP characterization. For example, we show that Res(⊕) ⋏ u-wRes(⊕) = RevRes(⊕), which effectively allows us to reduce the problem of proving Pigeonhole Principle lower bounds in Res(⊕) to proving Pigeonhole Principle lower bounds in RevRes(⊕), a potentially weaker proof system.

Cite as

Yaroslav Alekseev and Nikita Gaevoy. Intersection Theorems: A Potential Approach to Proof Complexity Lower Bounds. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 8:1-8:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{alekseev_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.8,
  author =	{Alekseev, Yaroslav and Gaevoy, Nikita},
  title =	{{Intersection Theorems: A Potential Approach to Proof Complexity Lower Bounds}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{8:1--8:18},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.8},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-252953},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.8},
  annote =	{Keywords: proof complexity, intersection theorems}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.81

Supercritical Tradeoff Between Size and Depth for Resolution over Parities

Authors: Dmitry Itsykson and Alexander Knop

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract

Alekseev and Itsykson (STOC 2025) proved the existence of an unsatisfiable CNF formula such that any resolution over parities (Res(⊕)) refutation must either have exponential size (in the formula size) or superlinear depth (in the number of variables). In this paper, we extend this result by constructing a formula with the same hardness properties, but which additionally admits a resolution refutation of quasi-polynomial size. This establishes a supercritical tradeoff between size and depth for resolution over parities. The proof builds on the framework of Alekseev and Itsykson and relies on a lifting argument applied to the supercritical tradeoff between width and depth in resolution, proposed by Buss and Thapen (IPL 2026).

Cite as

Dmitry Itsykson and Alexander Knop. Supercritical Tradeoff Between Size and Depth for Resolution over Parities. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 81:1-81:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{itsykson_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.81,
  author =	{Itsykson, Dmitry and Knop, Alexander},
  title =	{{Supercritical Tradeoff Between Size and Depth for Resolution over Parities}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{81:1--81:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.81},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253680},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.81},
  annote =	{Keywords: lifting theorems, resolution depth, resolution over parities, resolution width, supercritical tradeoff}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111

Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits

Authors: Hanlin Ren, Yichuan Wang, and Yan Zhong

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract

Given a circuit G: {0, 1}ⁿ → {0, 1}^m with m > n, the range avoidance problem (Avoid) asks to output a string y ∈ {0, 1}^m that is not in the range of G. Besides its profound connection to circuit complexity and explicit construction problems, this problem is also related to the existence of proof complexity generators - circuits G: {0, 1}ⁿ → {0, 1}^m where m > n but for every y ∈ {0, 1}^m, it is infeasible to prove the statement "y ̸ ∈ Range(G)" in a given propositional proof system. This paper connects these two problems with the existence of demi-bits generators, a fundamental cryptographic primitive against nondeterministic adversaries introduced by Rudich (RANDOM '97). - We show that the existence of demi-bits generators implies Avoid is hard for nondeterministic algorithms. This resolves an open problem raised by Chen and Li (STOC '24). Furthermore, assuming the demi-hardness of certain LPN-style generators or Goldreich’s PRG, we prove the hardness of Avoid even when the instances are constant-degree polynomials over 𝔽₂. - We show that the dual weak pigeonhole principle is unprovable in Cook’s theory PV₁ under the existence of demi-bits generators secure against AM/_{O(1)}, thereby separating Jeřábek’s theory APC₁ from PV₁. Previously, Ilango, Li, and Williams (STOC '23) obtained the same separation under different (and arguably stronger) cryptographic assumptions. - We transform demi-bits generators to proof complexity generators that are pseudo-surjective in certain parameter regime. Pseudo-surjectivity is the strongest form of hardness considered in the literature for proof complexity generators. Our constructions are inspired by the recent breakthroughs on the hardness of Avoid by Ilango, Li, and Williams (STOC '23) and Chen and Li (STOC '24). We use randomness extractors to significantly simplify the construction and the proof.

Cite as

Hanlin Ren, Yichuan Wang, and Yan Zhong. Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 111:1-111:25, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{ren_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111,
  author =	{Ren, Hanlin and Wang, Yichuan and Zhong, Yan},
  title =	{{Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{111:1--111:25},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253982},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111},
  annote =	{Keywords: Range Avoidance, Proof Complexity Generators}
}

Document

RANDOM

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.55

Lifting to Randomized Parity Decision Trees

Authors: Farzan Byramji and Russell Impagliazzo

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 353, Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)

Abstract

We prove a lifting theorem from randomized decision tree depth to randomized parity decision tree (PDT) size. We use the same property of the gadget, stifling, which was introduced by Chattopadhyay, Mande, Sanyal and Sherif [ITCS 23] to prove a lifting theorem for deterministic PDTs. Moreover, even the milder condition that the gadget has minimum parity certificate complexity at least 2 suffices for lifting to randomized PDT size. To improve the dependence on the gadget g in the lower bounds for composed functions, we consider a related problem g_* whose inputs are certificates of g. It is implicit in the work of Chattopadhyay et al. that for any function f, lower bounds for the *-depth of f_* give lower bounds for the PDT size of f. We make this connection explicit in the deterministic case and show that it also holds for randomized PDTs. We then combine this with composition theorems for *-depth, which follow by adapting known composition theorems for decision trees. As a corollary, we get tight lifting theorems when the gadget is Indexing, Inner Product or Disjointness.

Cite as

Farzan Byramji and Russell Impagliazzo. Lifting to Randomized Parity Decision Trees. In Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 353, pp. 55:1-55:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{byramji_et_al:LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.55,
  author =	{Byramji, Farzan and Impagliazzo, Russell},
  title =	{{Lifting to Randomized Parity Decision Trees}},
  booktitle =	{Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)},
  pages =	{55:1--55:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-397-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{353},
  editor =	{Ene, Alina and Chattopadhyay, Eshan},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.55},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-244213},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.55},
  annote =	{Keywords: Parity decision trees, composition}
}

Document

RANDOM

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.64

Searching for Falsified Clause in Random (log{n})-CNFs Is Hard for Randomized Communication

Authors: Artur Riazanov, Anastasia Sofronova, Dmitry Sokolov, and Weiqiang Yuan

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 353, Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)

Abstract

We show that for a randomly sampled unsatisfiable O(log n)-CNF over n variables the randomized two-party communication cost of finding a clause falsified by the given variable assignment is linear in n.

Cite as

Artur Riazanov, Anastasia Sofronova, Dmitry Sokolov, and Weiqiang Yuan. Searching for Falsified Clause in Random (log{n})-CNFs Is Hard for Randomized Communication. In Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 353, pp. 64:1-64:17, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{riazanov_et_al:LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.64,
  author =	{Riazanov, Artur and Sofronova, Anastasia and Sokolov, Dmitry and Yuan, Weiqiang},
  title =	{{Searching for Falsified Clause in Random (log\{n\})-CNFs Is Hard for Randomized Communication}},
  booktitle =	{Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)},
  pages =	{64:1--64:17},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-397-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{353},
  editor =	{Ene, Alina and Chattopadhyay, Eshan},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.64},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-244306},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.64},
  annote =	{Keywords: communication complexity, proof complexity, random CNF}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.24

Super-Critical Trade-Offs in Resolution over Parities via Lifting

Authors: Arkadev Chattopadhyay and Pavel Dvořák

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract

Razborov [Alexander A. Razborov, 2016] exhibited the following surprisingly strong trade-off phenomenon in propositional proof complexity: for a parameter k = k(n), there exists k-CNF formulas over n variables, having resolution refutations of O(k) width, but every tree-like refutation of width n^{1-ε}/k needs size exp(n^Ω(k)). We extend this result to tree-like Resolution over parities, commonly denoted by Res(⊕), with parameters essentially unchanged. To obtain our result, we extend the lifting theorem of Chattopadhyay, Mande, Sanyal and Sherif [Arkadev Chattopadhyay et al., 2023] to handle tree-like affine DAGs. We introduce additional ideas from linear algebra to handle forget nodes along long paths.

Cite as

Arkadev Chattopadhyay and Pavel Dvořák. Super-Critical Trade-Offs in Resolution over Parities via Lifting. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 24:1-24:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{chattopadhyay_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.24,
  author =	{Chattopadhyay, Arkadev and Dvo\v{r}\'{a}k, Pavel},
  title =	{{Super-Critical Trade-Offs in Resolution over Parities via Lifting}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{24:1--24:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.24},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237186},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.24},
  annote =	{Keywords: Proof complexity, Lifting, Resolution over parities}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.8

Amortized Closure and Its Applications in Lifting for Resolution over Parities

Authors: Klim Efremenko and Dmitry Itsykson

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract

The notion of closure of a set of linear forms, first introduced by Efremenko, Garlik, and Itsykson [Klim Efremenko et al., 2024], has proven instrumental in proving lower bounds on the sizes of regular and bounded-depth Res(⊕) refutations [Klim Efremenko et al., 2024; Yaroslav Alekseev and Dmitry Itsykson, 2025]. In this work, we present amortized closure, an enhancement that retains the properties of original closure [Klim Efremenko et al., 2024] but offers tighter control on its growth. Specifically, adding a new linear form increases the amortized closure by at most one. We explore two applications that highlight the power of this new concept. Utilizing our newly defined amortized closure, we extend and provide a succinct and elegant proof of the recent lifting theorem by Chattopadhyay and Dvorak [Arkadev Chattopadhyay and Pavel Dvorak, 2025]. Namely we show that for an unsatisfiable CNF formula φ and a 1-stifling gadget g: {0,1}^𝓁 → {0,1}, if the lifted formula φ∘g has a tree-like Res(⊕) refutation of size 2^d and width w, then φ has a resolution refutation of depth d and width w. The original theorem by Chattopadhyay and Dvorak [Arkadev Chattopadhyay and Pavel Dvorak, 2025] applies only to the more restrictive class of strongly stifling gadgets. As a more significant application of amortized closure, we show improved lower bounds for bounded-depth Res(⊕), extending the depth beyond that of Alekseev and Itsykson [Yaroslav Alekseev and Dmitry Itsykson, 2025]. Our result establishes an exponential lower bound for depth-Ω(n log n) Res(⊕) refutations of lifted Tseitin formulas, a notable improvement over the existing depth-Ω(n log log n) Res(⊕) lower bound.

Cite as

Klim Efremenko and Dmitry Itsykson. Amortized Closure and Its Applications in Lifting for Resolution over Parities. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 8:1-8:24, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{efremenko_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.8,
  author =	{Efremenko, Klim and Itsykson, Dmitry},
  title =	{{Amortized Closure and Its Applications in Lifting for Resolution over Parities}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{8:1--8:24},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.8},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237023},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.8},
  annote =	{Keywords: lifting, resolution over parities, closure of linear forms, lower bounds, width, depth, size vs depth tradeoff}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.14

On the Automatability of Tree-Like k-DNF Resolution

Authors: Gaia Carenini and Susanna F. de Rezende

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract

A proof system 𝒫 is said to be automatable in time f(N) if there exists an algorithm that given as input an unsatisfiable formula F outputs a refutation of F in the proof system 𝒫 in time f(N), where N is the size of the smallest 𝒫-refutation of F plus the size of F. Atserias and Bonet (ECCC 2002), observed that tree-like k-DNF resolution is automatable in time N^{c⋅klog N} for a universal constant c. We show that, under the randomized exponential-time hypothesis (rETH), this is tight up to a O(log k)-factor in the exponent, i.e., we prove that tree-like k-DNF resolution, for k at most logarithmic in the number of variables of F, is not automatable in time N^o((k/log k)⋅log N) unless rETH is false. Our proof builds on the non-automatability results for resolution by Atserias and Müller (FOCS 2019), for algebraic proof systems by de Rezende, Göös, Nordström, Pitassi, Robere and Sokolov (STOC 2021), and for tree-like resolution by de Rezende (LAGOS 2021).

Cite as

Gaia Carenini and Susanna F. de Rezende. On the Automatability of Tree-Like k-DNF Resolution. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 14:1-14:21, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{carenini_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.14,
  author =	{Carenini, Gaia and de Rezende, Susanna F.},
  title =	{{On the Automatability of Tree-Like k-DNF Resolution}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{14:1--14:21},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.14},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237081},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.14},
  annote =	{Keywords: Proof Complexity, Tree-like k-DNF Resolution, Automatability}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.16

Direct Sums for Parity Decision Trees

Authors: Tyler Besselman, Mika Göös, Siyao Guo, Gilbert Maystre, and Weiqiang Yuan

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract

Direct sum theorems state that the cost of solving k instances of a problem is at least Ω(k) times the cost of solving a single instance. We prove the first such results in the randomised parity decision tree model. We show that a direct sum theorem holds whenever (1) the lower bound for parity decision trees is proved using the discrepancy method; or (2) the lower bound is proved relative to a product distribution.

Cite as

Tyler Besselman, Mika Göös, Siyao Guo, Gilbert Maystre, and Weiqiang Yuan. Direct Sums for Parity Decision Trees. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 16:1-16:38, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{besselman_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.16,
  author =	{Besselman, Tyler and G\"{o}\"{o}s, Mika and Guo, Siyao and Maystre, Gilbert and Yuan, Weiqiang},
  title =	{{Direct Sums for Parity Decision Trees}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{16:1--16:38},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.16},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237105},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.16},
  annote =	{Keywords: direct sum, parity decision trees, query complexity}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.36

Lifting with Colourful Sunflowers

Authors: Susanna F. de Rezende and Marc Vinyals

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract

We show that a generalization of the DAG-like query-to-communication lifting theorem, when proven using sunflowers over non-binary alphabets, yields lower bounds on the monotone circuit complexity and proof complexity of natural functions and formulas that are better than previously known results obtained using the approximation method. These include an n^Ω(k) lower bound for the clique function up to k ≤ n^{1/2-ε}, and an exp(Ω(n^{1/3-ε})) lower bound for a function in P.

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Susanna F. de Rezende and Marc Vinyals. Lifting with Colourful Sunflowers. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 36:1-36:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{derezende_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.36,
  author =	{de Rezende, Susanna F. and Vinyals, Marc},
  title =	{{Lifting with Colourful Sunflowers}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{36:1--36:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.36},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237303},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.36},
  annote =	{Keywords: lifting, sunflower, clique, colouring, monotone circuit, cutting planes}
}

Document

Track A: Algorithms, Complexity and Games

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ICALP.2025.21

Multiparty Communication Complexity of Collision-Finding and Cutting Planes Proofs of Concise Pigeonhole Principles

Authors: Paul Beame and Michael Whitmeyer

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 334, 52nd International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP 2025)

Abstract

We prove several results concerning the communication complexity of a collision-finding problem, each of which has applications to the complexity of cutting-plane proofs, which make inferences based on integer linear inequalities. In particular, we prove an Ω(n^{1-1/k} log k /2^k) lower bound on the k-party number-in-hand communication complexity of collision-finding. This implies a 2^{n^{1-o(1)}} lower bound on the size of tree-like cutting-planes refutations of the bit pigeonhole principle CNFs, which are compact and natural propositional encodings of the negation of the pigeonhole principle, improving on the best previous lower bound of 2^{Ω(√n)}. Using the method of density-restoring partitions, we also extend that previous lower bound to the full range of pigeonhole parameters. Finally, using a refinement of a bottleneck-counting framework of Haken and Cook and Sokolov for DAG-like communication protocols, we give a 2^{Ω(n^{1/4})} lower bound on the size of fully general (not necessarily tree-like) cutting planes refutations of the same bit pigeonhole principle formulas, improving on the best previous lower bound of 2^{Ω(n^{1/8})}.

Cite as

Paul Beame and Michael Whitmeyer. Multiparty Communication Complexity of Collision-Finding and Cutting Planes Proofs of Concise Pigeonhole Principles. In 52nd International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 334, pp. 21:1-21:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{beame_et_al:LIPIcs.ICALP.2025.21,
  author =	{Beame, Paul and Whitmeyer, Michael},
  title =	{{Multiparty Communication Complexity of Collision-Finding and Cutting Planes Proofs of Concise Pigeonhole Principles}},
  booktitle =	{52nd International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP 2025)},
  pages =	{21:1--21:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-372-0},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{334},
  editor =	{Censor-Hillel, Keren and Grandoni, Fabrizio and Ouaknine, Jo\"{e}l and Puppis, Gabriele},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ICALP.2025.21},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-233982},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ICALP.2025.21},
  annote =	{Keywords: Proof Complexity, Communication Complexity}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.8

Tropical Proof Systems: Between R(CP) and Resolution

Authors: Yaroslav Alekseev, Dima Grigoriev, and Edward A. Hirsch

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 327, 42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025)

Abstract

Propositional proof complexity deals with the lengths of polynomial-time verifiable proofs for Boolean tautologies. An abundance of proof systems is known, including algebraic and semialgebraic systems, which work with polynomial equations and inequalities, respectively. The most basic algebraic proof system is based on Hilbert’s Nullstellensatz [Paul Beame et al., 1996]. Tropical ("min-plus") arithmetic has many applications in various areas of mathematics. The operations are the real addition (as the tropical multiplication) and the minimum (as the tropical addition). Recently, [Bertram and Easton, 2017; Dima Grigoriev and Vladimir V. Podolskii, 2018; Joo and Mincheva, 2018] demonstrated a version of Nullstellensatz in the tropical setting. In this paper we introduce (semi)algebraic proof systems that use min-plus arithmetic. For the dual-variable encoding of Boolean variables (two tropical variables x and x ̅ per one Boolean variable x) and {0,1}-encoding of the truth values, we prove that a static (Nullstellensatz-based) tropical proof system polynomially simulates daglike resolution and also has short proofs for the propositional pigeon-hole principle. Its dynamic version strengthened by an additional derivation rule (a tropical analogue of resolution by linear inequality) is equivalent to the system Res(LP) (aka R(LP)), which derives nonnegative linear combinations of linear inequalities; this latter system is known to polynomially simulate Krajíček’s Res(CP) (aka R(CP)) with unary coefficients. Therefore, tropical proof systems give a finer hierarchy of proof systems below Res(LP) for which we still do not have exponential lower bounds. While the "driving force" in Res(LP) is resolution by linear inequalities, dynamic tropical systems are driven solely by the transitivity of the order, and static tropical proof systems are based on reasoning about differences between the input linear functions. For the truth values encoded by {0,∞}, dynamic tropical proofs are equivalent to Res(∞), which is a small-depth Frege system called also DNF resolution. Finally, we provide a lower bound on the size of derivations of a much simplified tropical version of the {Binary Value Principle} in a static tropical proof system. Also, we establish the non-deducibility of the tropical resolution rule in this system and discuss axioms for Boolean logic that do not use dual variables. In this extended abstract, full proofs are omitted.

Cite as

Yaroslav Alekseev, Dima Grigoriev, and Edward A. Hirsch. Tropical Proof Systems: Between R(CP) and Resolution. In 42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 327, pp. 8:1-8:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{alekseev_et_al:LIPIcs.STACS.2025.8,
  author =	{Alekseev, Yaroslav and Grigoriev, Dima and Hirsch, Edward A.},
  title =	{{Tropical Proof Systems: Between R(CP) and Resolution}},
  booktitle =	{42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025)},
  pages =	{8:1--8:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-365-2},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{327},
  editor =	{Beyersdorff, Olaf and Pilipczuk, Micha{\l} and Pimentel, Elaine and Thắng, Nguy\~{ê}n Kim},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.8},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-228332},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.8},
  annote =	{Keywords: Cutting Planes, Nullstellensatz refutations, Res(CP), semi-algebraic proofs, tropical proof systems, tropical semiring}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.6

Equi-Rank Homomorphism Preservation Theorem on Finite Structures

Authors: Benjamin Rossman

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 326, 33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025)

Abstract

The Homomorphism Preservation Theorem (HPT) of classical model theory states that a first-order sentence is preserved under homomorphisms if, and only if, it is equivalent to an existential-positive sentence. This theorem remains valid when restricted to finite structures, as demonstrated by the author in [Rossman, 2008; Rossman, 2017] via distinct model-theoretic and circuit-complexity based proofs. In this paper, we present a third (and significantly simpler) proof of the finitary HPT based on a generalized Cai-Fürer-Immerman construction. This method establishes a tight correspondence between syntactic parameters of a homomorphism-preserved sentence (quantifier rank, variable width, alternation height) and structural parameters of its minimal models (tree-width, tree-depth, decomposition height). Consequently, we prove a conjectured "equi-rank" version of the finitary HPT. In contrast, previous versions of the finitary HPT possess additional properties, but incur blow-ups in the quantifier rank of the equivalent existential-positive sentence.

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Benjamin Rossman. Equi-Rank Homomorphism Preservation Theorem on Finite Structures. In 33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 326, pp. 6:1-6:17, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{rossman:LIPIcs.CSL.2025.6,
  author =	{Rossman, Benjamin},
  title =	{{Equi-Rank Homomorphism Preservation Theorem on Finite Structures}},
  booktitle =	{33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025)},
  pages =	{6:1--6:17},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-362-1},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{326},
  editor =	{Endrullis, J\"{o}rg and Schmitz, Sylvain},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.6},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-227634},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.6},
  annote =	{Keywords: finite model theory, preservation theorems, quantifier rank}
}

Document

DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2024.19

On Limits of Symbolic Approach to SAT Solving

Authors: Dmitry Itsykson and Sergei Ovcharov

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 305, 27th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2024)

Abstract

We study the symbolic approach to the propositional satisfiability problem proposed by Aguirre and Vardi in 2001 based on OBDDs and symbolic quantifier elimination. We study the theoretical limitations of the most general version of this approach where it is allowed to dynamically change variable order in OBDD. We refer to algorithms based on this approach as OBDD(∧, ∃, reordering) algorithms. We prove the first exponential lower bound of OBDD(∧, ∃, reordering) algorithms on unsatisfiable formulas, and give an example of formulas having short tree-like resolution proofs that are exponentially hard for OBDD(∧, ∃, reordering) algorithms. We also present the first exponential lower bound for natural formulas with clear combinatorial meaning: every OBDD(∧, ∃, reordering) algorithm runs exponentially long on the binary pigeonhole principle BPHP^{n+1}_n.

Cite as

Dmitry Itsykson and Sergei Ovcharov. On Limits of Symbolic Approach to SAT Solving. In 27th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 305, pp. 19:1-19:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024)

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@InProceedings{itsykson_et_al:LIPIcs.SAT.2024.19,
  author =	{Itsykson, Dmitry and Ovcharov, Sergei},
  title =	{{On Limits of Symbolic Approach to SAT Solving}},
  booktitle =	{27th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2024)},
  pages =	{19:1--19:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-334-8},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2024},
  volume =	{305},
  editor =	{Chakraborty, Supratik and Jiang, Jie-Hong Roland},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2024.19},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-205415},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2024.19},
  annote =	{Keywords: Symbolic quantifier elimination, OBDD, lower bounds, tree-like resolution, proof complexity, error-correcting codes, binary pigeonhole principle}
}

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