A linear time algorithm for connected p-centdian problem on block graphs

Abstract

We study the problem of finding a set of p connected vertices in a block graph to minimize the convex combination of the median and the center objective functions. This problem is called the connected p-centdian problem on block graphs. In the scope of this paper, we always focus on unweighted block graphs. For block graphs with two different edge lengths, the problem is NP-complete. For block graphs with uniform edge lengths, we focus on a special case of the connected p-centdian problem, namely where the median and the center functions receive equal weight. Concerning this specific problem, we consider a lexicographic order based on certain labels of the vertices and prove that there exists a connected p-centdian that contains a predetermined 1-centdian on the underlying graph. Applying this result, we develop a linear time algorithm for the problem. Finally, the problem under the general convex combination of the median and the center functions is also discussed.