Edge Estimation with Independent Set Oracles
We study the task of estimating the number of edges in a graph, where the access to the graph is provided via an independent set oracle. Independent set queries draw motivation from group testing and have applications to the complexity of decision versus counting problems. We give two algorithms to estimate the number of edges in an n -vertex graph, using (i) polylog( n ) bipartite independent set queries or (ii) n 2/3 polylog( n ) independent set queries.
Highlights
We study the problem of estimating the number of edges in a simple, unweighted, undirected graph G = ([n], E), where [n] := {1, 2, . . . , n} and m = |E|, using only an oracle that answers independent set queries
Previous work on graph parameter estimation has primarily focused on local queries, such as degree queries, edge existence queries (which answer whether a pair (u, v) forms an edge), or neighbor queries
We studied the task of using either Bipartite independent set (BIS) or Independent set (IS) queries to estimate the number of edges in a graph
Summary
Previous work on graph parameter estimation has primarily focused on local queries, such as degree queries (which output the degree of a vertex v), edge existence queries (which answer whether a pair (u, v) forms an edge), or neighbor queries (which provide the ith neighbor of a vertex v). Such queries cannot achieve sub-polynomial query costs on certain lower bound graphs identified by Feige [13] and Goldreich and Ron [15], essentially due to the fact that these queries can only obtain local information about the graph. The independent set queries described above naturally generalize an edge existence query, and their non-locality opens the door for sub-polynomial query algorithms for various graph parameter estimation tasks
85
- 10.1137/15m1054389
- Jan 1, 2017
- SIAM Journal on Computing
74
- 10.1016/s0166-218x(98)00070-5
- Nov 1, 1998
- Discrete Applied Mathematics
174
- 10.1145/800061.808740
- Jan 1, 1983
74
- 10.1137/s0097539702420139
- Jan 1, 2004
- SIAM Journal on Computing
114
- 10.1137/060669474
- Jan 1, 2008
- SIAM Journal on Computing
1637
- 10.1214/aoms/1177731363
- Dec 1, 1943
- The Annals of Mathematical Statistics
37
- 10.1145/3188745.3188810
- Jun 20, 2018
30
- 10.1007/s00453-017-0287-3
- Feb 10, 2017
- Algorithmica
10
- 10.1137/1.9781611975994.135
- Jan 1, 2020
7
- 10.1137/1.9781611975994.177
- Jan 1, 2020
- Conference Article
3
- 10.1109/focs54457.2022.00055
- Oct 1, 2022
We study the complexity of determining the edge connectivity of a simple graph with cut queries. We show that (i) there is a bounded-error randomized algorithm that computes edge connectivity with $O(n)$ cut queries, and (ii) there is a bounded-error quantum algorithm that computes edge connectivity with $\tilde{O}(\sqrt{}$n) cut queries. To prove these results we introduce a new technique, called star contraction, to randomly contract edges of a graph while preserving non-trivial minimum cuts. In star contraction vertices randomly contract an edge incident on a small set of randomly chosen “center” vertices. In contrast to the related 2-out contraction technique of Ghaffari, Nowicki, and Thorup [SODA’20], star contraction only contracts vertex-disjoint star subgraphs, which allows it to be efficiently implemented via cut queries. The $O(n)$ bound from item (i) was not known even for the simpler problem of connectivity, and it improves the $O(n\log^{3}n)$ upper bound by Rubinstein, Schramm, and Weinberg [ITCS’18]. The bound is tight under the reasonable conjecture that the randomized communication complexity of connectivity is $\Omega(n\log n)$, an open question since the seminal work of Babai, Frankl, and Simon [FOCS’86]. The bound also excludes using edge connectivity on simple graphs to prove a superlinear randomized query lower bound for minimizing a symmetric submodular function. The quantum algorithm from item (ii) gives a nearlyquadratic separation with the randomized complexity, and addresses an open question of Lee, Santha, and Zhang [SODA’21]. The algorithm can alternatively be viewed as computing the edge connectivity of a simple graph with $\tilde{O}(\sqrt{}$n) matrix-vector multiplication queries to its adjacency matrix. Finally, we demonstrate the use of star contraction outside of the cut query setting by designing a one-pass semi-streaming algorithm for computing edge connectivity in the complete vertex arrival setting. This contrasts with the edge arrival setting where two passes are required.
- Research Article
1
- 10.1016/j.jcss.2023.02.002
- Apr 25, 2023
- Journal of Computer and System Sciences
Almost optimal query algorithm for hitting set using a subset query
- Research Article
7
- 10.1137/19m130604x
- Jul 5, 2022
- SIAM Journal on Computing
In this paper, we design efficient algorithms to approximately count the number of edges of a given $k$-hypergraph, and to sample an approximately uniform random edge. The hypergraph is not given explicitly and can be accessed only through its colorful independence oracle: The colorful independence oracle returns yes or no depending on whether a given subset of the vertices contains an edge that is colorful with respect to a given vertex-coloring. Our results extend and/or strengthen recent results in the graph oracle literature due to Beame et al. [ACM Trans. Algorithms, 16 (2020), 52], Dell and Lapinskas [Proceedings of STOC, ACM, 2018, pp. 281--288], and Bhattacharya et al. [Proceedings of ISAAC, 2019]. Our results have consequences for approximate counting/sampling: We can turn certain kinds of decision algorithms into approximate counting/sampling algorithms without causing much overhead in the running time. We apply this approximate counting/sampling-to-decision reduction to key problems in fine-grained complexity (such as $k$-SUM, $k$-OV, and weighted $k$-Clique) and parameterized complexity (such as induced subgraphs of size $k$ or weight-$k$ solutions to constraint satisfaction problems).
- New
- Research Article
- 10.1016/j.cosrev.2025.100837
- Feb 1, 2026
- Computer Science Review
Parameterised counting complexity theory
- Book Chapter
- 10.1007/978-3-030-67731-2_1
- Jan 1, 2021
Problems where an algorithm cannot simply access the whole input but needs to obtain information about it using queries arise naturally in many settings. We discuss different aspects of models where an algorithm needs to query the input, and of how the performance of algorithms for such models can be measured. After that, we give some concrete examples of algorithmic settings and results for scenarios where algorithms access the input via queries. Finally, we discuss recent results for the setting of computing with explorable uncertainty with parallel queries and with untrusted predictions.
- Conference Article
- 10.1145/3717823.3718160
- Jun 15, 2025
Approximately Counting and Sampling Hamiltonian Motifs in Sublinear Time
- Research Article
4
- 10.1002/jcc.21738
- Feb 15, 2011
- Journal of Computational Chemistry
A number of modeling and simulation algorithms using internal coordinates rely on hierarchical representations of molecular systems. Given the potentially complex topologies of molecular systems, though, automatically generating such hierarchical decompositions may be difficult. In this article, we present a fast general algorithm for the complete construction of a hierarchical representation of a molecular system. This two-step algorithm treats the input molecular system as a graph in which vertices represent atoms or pseudo-atoms, and edges represent covalent bonds. The first step contracts all cycles in the input graph. The second step builds an assembly tree from the reduced graph. We analyze the complexity of this algorithm and show that the first step is linear in the number of edges in the input graph, whereas the second one is linear in the number of edges in the graph without cycles, but dependent on the branching factor of the molecular graph. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on a set of specifically tailored difficult cases as well as on a large subset of molecular graphs extracted from the protein data bank. In particular, we experimentally show that both steps behave linearly in the number of edges in the input graph (the branching factor is fixed for the second step). Finally, we demonstrate an application of our hierarchy construction algorithm to adaptive torsion-angle molecular mechanics.
- Research Article
1
- 10.1016/j.dam.2020.10.008
- Oct 23, 2020
- Discrete Applied Mathematics
Extremal graphs for blow-ups of stars and paths
- Research Article
17
- 10.1016/j.disc.2020.111924
- Apr 9, 2020
- Discrete Mathematics
The formula for Turán number of spanning linear forests
- Research Article
18
- 10.1006/jctb.2001.2037
- Jul 1, 2001
- Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series B
Covering Non-uniform Hypergraphs
- Research Article
1
- 10.1007/s00493-016-3584-6
- Aug 14, 2017
- Combinatorica
A graph G is k-critical if G is not (k − 1)-colorable, but every proper subgraph of G is (k − 1)-colorable. A graph G is k-choosable if G has an L-coloring from every list assignment L with |L(v)|=k for all v, and a graph G is k-list-critical if G is not (k−1)-choosable, but every proper subgraph of G is (k−1)-choosable. The problem of determining the minimum number of edges in a k-critical graph with n vertices has been widely studied, starting with work of Gallai and culminating with the seminal results of Kostochka and Yancey, who essentially solved the problem. In this paper, we improve the best known lower bound on the number of edges in a k-list-critical graph. In fact, our result on k-list-critical graphs is derived from a lower bound on the number of edges in a graph with Alon–Tarsi number at least k. Our proof uses the discharging method, which makes it simpler and more modular than previous work in this area.
- Research Article
1
- 10.1016/j.disopt.2023.100802
- Sep 5, 2023
- Discrete Optimization
Constructing extremal triangle-free graphs using integer programming
- Conference Article
2
- 10.5817/cz.muni.eurocomb23-011
- Jan 1, 2023
In 1959 Erd\H os and Gallai proved the asymptotically optimal bound for the maximum number of edges in graphs not containing a path of a fixed length. We investigate a rainbow version of the theorem, in which one considers $k \geq 1$ graphs on a common set of vertices not creating a path having edges from different graphs and asks for the maximum number of edges in each graph. We prove the asymptotically optimal bound in the case of a path on three edges and any $k \geq 1$.
- Research Article
2
- 10.1016/0012-365x(83)90060-2
- Jan 1, 1983
- Discrete Mathematics
Minimum number of edges in graphs that are both P2- and Pi-connected
- Conference Article
5
- 10.1109/iadcc.2015.7154702
- Jun 1, 2015
The Hierarchical Chinese postman problem is a special type of Chinese postman problem. The aim is to find a shortest tour that traverses each edge of a given graph at least once. The constraint is that the arcs are partitioned into classes and a precedence relation orders the classes according to priority. Different forms of the HCPP are applied in real life applications such as snow plowing, winter gritting and street sweeping. The problem is solvable in polynomial time if the ordering relation is linear and each class is connected. Dror et al. (1987) presented an algorithm which provides time complexity of O (kn <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">5</sup> ). CPP which is lower bound for HCPP. We give alternate approach by using Kruskal's method to reduce number of edges in graph which is having time complexity of O (k <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> n <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> ), where k is number of layers in graph and n is number of nodes in graph. It is found that the suggested kruskal-based HCPP-solution gives average 21.64% improvement compare to simple HCPP and we get average 13.35% improvement over CPP when number of hierarchy is less than 3 and numbers of edges in graph are less than 10.
- Research Article
1
- 10.1016/j.jcss.2023.02.002
- Apr 25, 2023
- Journal of Computer and System Sciences
Almost optimal query algorithm for hitting set using a subset query
- Research Article
15
- 10.1016/0012-365x(94)90389-1
- Aug 1, 1994
- Discrete Mathematics
On unique independent sets in graphs
- Research Article
10
- 10.1016/s0012-365x(98)00236-2
- Feb 28, 1999
- Discrete Mathematics
Bounds on the size of graphs of given order and l-connectivity
- Research Article
- 10.1016/j.aam.2025.102936
- Dec 1, 2025
- Advances in Applied Mathematics
The number of edges in graphs with bounded clique number and circumference
- Research Article
5
- 10.1016/s0012-365x(01)00474-5
- Jan 13, 2002
- Discrete Mathematics
On the number of edges in graphs with a given weakly connected domination number
- Research Article
- 10.54691/w10e3408
- Jan 22, 2024
- Scientific Journal of Technology
The study of cyclic graphs has always been a hot topic in the field of graph theory and has received widespread attention from graph theory practitioners. If an n-order graph G exactly contains cycles of all lengths from 3 to n, then the graph is called a pan cycle graph. This article proves that, after excluding some special cases, when the number of edges in graph G is greater than or equal to C2n-3+12, graph G must be a pan cyclic graph.
- New
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3774415
- Nov 3, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3765740
- Oct 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3765285
- Oct 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3763238
- Oct 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3750729
- Oct 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3762664
- Oct 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3768574
- Oct 6, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
2
- 10.1145/3663763
- Sep 8, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3757919
- Aug 7, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Research Article
- 10.1145/3758324
- Aug 6, 2025
- ACM Transactions on Algorithms
- Ask R Discovery
- Chat PDF
AI summaries and top papers from 250M+ research sources.