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Combinatorial Search and Heuristic Methods

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Abstract

We can solve many problems to optimality using exhaustive search techniques, although the time complexity can be enormous. For certain applications, it may pay to spend extra time to be certain of the optimal solution. A good example occurs in testing a circuit or a program on all possible inputs. You can prove the correctness of the device by trying all possible inputs and verifying that they give the correct answer. Verifying correctness is a property to be proud of.However, claiming that it works correctly on all the inputs you tried is worth much less.

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Correspondence to Steven S. Skiena .

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Skiena, S.S. (2012). Combinatorial Search and Heuristic Methods. In: The Algorithm Design Manual. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-070-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-070-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84800-069-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84800-070-4

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