Tight Lower Bounds for Block-Structured Integer Programs

Christoph Hunkenschröder, Kim Manuel Klein, Martin Koutecký, Alexandra Lassota, Asaf Levin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

We study fundamental block-structured integer programs called tree-fold and multi-stage IPs. Tree-fold IPs admit a constraint matrix with independent blocks linked together by few constraints in a recursive pattern; and transposing their constraint matrix yields multi-stage IPs. The state-of-the-art algorithms to solve these IPs have an exponential gap in their running times, making it natural to ask whether this gap is inherent. We answer this question affirmative. Assuming the Exponential Time Hypothesis, we prove lower bounds showing that the exponential difference is necessary, and that the known algorithms are near optimal. Moreover, we prove unconditional lower bounds on the norms of the Graver basis, a fundamental building block of all known algorithms to solve these IPs. This shows that none of the current approaches can be improved beyond this bound.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInteger Programming and Combinatorial Optimization - 25th International Conference, IPCO 2024, Proceedings
EditorsJens Vygen, Jarosław Byrka
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages224-237
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9783031598340
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event25th International Conference on Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization, IPCO 2024 - Wroclaw, Poland
Duration: 3 Jul 20245 Jul 2024

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume14679 LNCS

Conference

Conference25th International Conference on Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization, IPCO 2024
Country/TerritoryPoland
CityWroclaw
Period3/07/245/07/24

Keywords

  • (unconditional) lower bounds
  • ETH
  • integer programming
  • multi-stage
  • n-fold
  • subset sum
  • tree-fold

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tight Lower Bounds for Block-Structured Integer Programs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this