Feasible Mathematics II: 13 (Progress in Computer Science and Applied Logic, 13) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0817636757 ISBN 13: 9780817636753

Publisher: Birkhäuser, 1994

Synopsis

Perspicuity is part of proof. If the process by means of which I get a result were not surveyable, I might indeed make a note that this number is what comes out - but what fact is this supposed to confirm for me? I don't know 'what is supposed to come out' . . . . 1 -L. Wittgenstein A feasible computation uses small resources on an abstract computa­ tion device, such as a 'lUring machine or boolean circuit. Feasible math­ ematics concerns the study of feasible computations, using combinatorics and logic, as well as the study of feasibly presented mathematical structures such as groups, algebras, and so on. This volume contains contributions to feasible mathematics in three areas: computational complexity theory, proof theory and algebra, with substantial overlap between different fields. In computational complexity theory, the polynomial time hierarchy is characterized without the introduction of runtime bounds by the closure of certain initial functions under safe composition, predicative recursion on notation, and unbounded minimization (S. Bellantoni); an alternative way of looking at NP problems is introduced which focuses on which pa­ rameters of the problem are the cause of its computational complexity and completeness, density and separation/collapse results are given for a struc­ ture theory for parametrized problems (R. Downey and M. Fellows); new characterizations of PTIME and LINEAR SPACE are given using predicative recurrence over all finite tiers of certain stratified free algebras (D.

About this title

Synopsis

In computational applications, an algorithm may solve a given problem, but be "infeasible" in practice because it requires large time and space resources. A "feasible" algorithm requires a "small" amount of time and/or memory and can be implemented on an abstract computational device such as a Turing machine or a boolean circuit. In investigating feasible algorithms, a wide variety of tools from combinatorics, logic, computational complexity theory and algebra can be employed. The purpose of the workshop on which this volume is based was to carry on the work of the first "Feasible Mathematics" workshop, held in 1989. Both workshops were held at Cornell University and sponsored by the University and Mathematics Sciences Institute. This volume contains contributions to feasible mathematics in three areas: computational complexity theory, proof theory and algebra, with substantial overlap between different fields.

Among the topics covered are: boolean circuit lower bounds, novel characteristics of various boolean and sequential complexity classes, fixed-parameter tractability, higher order feasible functionals, higher order programs related to Plotkin's PCF, combinatorial proofs of feasible length, bounded arithmetic, feasible interpretations, polynomial time categoricity, and algebraic properties of finitely generated recursively enumerable algebras.

Edition details

• Publisher: Birkhäuser
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0817636757
• ISBN 13: 9780817636753
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 447
• Editor: Clote Peter, Remmel Jeffrey B.