On a binary distance model for the minimum linear arrangement problem

Abstract

The minimum linear arrangement problem consists of finding an embedding of the nodes of a graph on the line such that the sum of the resulting edge lengths is minimized. The problem is among the classical NP-hard optimization problems and there has been extensive research on exact and approximative algorithms. In this paper, we introduce a new model based on binary variables dijk that are equal to 1 if nodes i and j have distance k in the ordering. We analyze this model and point to connections and differences to a model using integer distance variables. Based on computational experiments, we argue that our model is worth further theoretical and practical investigation and that is has potentials yet to be examined.