Summary
This paper presents parallel approximation schemes for the Subset Sum, 0–1 Knapsack, and several other optimization problems. These algorithms offer a three-way trade-off among parallel time, the accuracy of the solution, and the number of processors used. The maximum numbers of processors which can be usefully employed depend on n (the size of the input), and the accuracy requirement ɛ. The parallel running times of the algorithms are polynomial in both log n and log(1/ɛ) when enough processors are used.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fortune, S., Wyllie, J.: Parallelism in random access machines. Proc. 10th ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, May 1978, pp. 114–118
Garey, M.R., Johnson, D.S.: Computers and intractability: A guide to the theory of NP-completeness. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman 1979
Gens, G.V., Levner, E.V.: Approximate algorithms for certain universal problems in scheduling theory. Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Tech. Kibernet. 16:38–43 (1978)
Gens, G.V., Levner, Ye.V.: Discrete optimization problems and efficient approximate algorithms (A survey). Eng. Cybernetics 17:1–11 (1979)
Gens, G.V., Levner, E.V.: Fast approximation algorithms for knapsack type problems. In: Proc. 9th IFIP Conference on Optimization Techniques, Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, Vol. 23, pp. 185–194. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1979
Gens, G., Levner, E.: Complexity of approximation algorithms for combinatorial problems: a survey. SIGACT News 12:52–65 (1980)
Horowitz, E., Sahni, S.K.: Exact and approximate algorithms for scheduling nonidentical processors. Journal ACM 23:317–327 (1976)
Ibarra, O.H., Kim, C.E.: Fast approximation algorithms for the knapsack and sum of subsets problems. J. ACM 22:463–468 (1975)
Lawler, E.L.: Fast approximation algorithms for knapsack problems. Proc. 18th IEEE Symp. Found. Comput. Sci., pp. 206–213. Providence, Rhode Island, Oct 31–Nov 2, 1977
Leighton, T.: Tight bounds on the complexity of parallel sorting. Proc. 16th ACM Symp. Theory Comput., pp. 71–80. Washington, D.C. 1984
Moran, S.: General approximation algorithms for some arithmetical combinatorial problems. Theor. Comput. Sci. 14:289–303 (1981)
Peters, J., Rudolph, L.: Parallel approximation schemes for subset sum and knapsack problems. Dept. of Computer Science, Carnegie-Mellon University, Technical Report CMU-CS-84-155, August 1984
Sahni, S.K.: Algorithms for scheduling independent tasks. Journal ACM 23:116–127 (1976)
Sahni, S.: General techniques for combinatorial approximation. Oper. Res. 25:920–936 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Parts of this research were done while both authors were at the Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peters, J.G., Rudolph, L. Parallel approximation schemes for Subset Sum and Knapsack problems. Acta Informatica 24, 417–432 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292111
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292111