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  • Textbook
  • © 2002

The Complexity Theory Companion

  • Offers an algorithmic approach to computational complexity
  • Intuitive approach makes this field more easily and fully accessible to readers at all levels
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. The Self-Reducibility Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 1-29
  3. The One-Way Function Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 31-44
  4. The Tournament Divide and Conquer Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 45-65
  5. The Isolation Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 67-89
  6. The Witness Reduction Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 91-108
  7. The Polynomial Interpolation Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 109-166
  8. The Nonsolvable Group Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 167-195
  9. The Random Restriction Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 197-233
  10. The Polynomial Technique

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 235-261
  11. A Rogues’ Gallery of Complexity Classes

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 263-303
  12. A Rogues’ Gallery of Reductions

    • Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara
    Pages 305-308
  13. Back Matter

    Pages 309-372

About this book

The Complexity Theory Companion is an accessible, algorithmically oriented, research-centered, up-to-date guide to some of the most interesting techniques of complexity theory.

The book's thesis is that simple algorithms are at the heart of complexity theory. From the tree-pruning and interval-pruning algorithms that shape the first chapter to the query simulation procedures that dominate the last chapter, the central proof methods of the book are algorithmic. And to more clearly highlight the role of algorithmic techniques in complexity theory, the book is - unlike other texts on complexity - organized by technique rather than by topic. Each chapter of this book focuses on one technique: what it is, and what results and applications it yields.

This textbook was developed at the University of Rochester in courses given to graduate students and advanced undergraduates. Researchers also will find this book a valuable source of reference due to the comprehensive bibliography of close to five hundred entries, the thirty-five page subject index, and the appendices giving overviews of complexity classes and reductions.

Reviews

From the reviews of the first edition:

"The introduction … begins with two secrets: that algorithms are at the heart of complexity theory, and moreover that simple algorithms are at the heart of complexity theory. The main body of the book then proceeds to try and illustrate this view. … While all the chapters primarily deal with a succession of theorems, lemmas and proofs, the surrounding text makes it fairly accessible and readable. … The appendices are very well laid out and could probably replace a small library of textbooks." (A. Weaver, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 54, 2004)

"The book is intended for readers who seek an accessible, algorithmically oriented research-centered, up-to-date guide to several interesting techniques of computational complexity. In contrast to the organization of other books, each chapter of this book focuses on one particular technique in complexity theory. … The book contains two appendices, the first presenting a concise overview on complexity classes, the second one on reductions. The book presents a survey on a great variety of recent interesting techniques in complexity." (Ludwig Staiger, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 993, 2002)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Computer Science, Rochester, USA

    Lane A. Hemaspaandra, Mitsunori Ogihara

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access