English

A lower bound for distributed averaging algorithms

Optimization and Control 2015-03-13 v1

Abstract

We derive lower bounds on the convergence speed of a widely used class of distributed averaging algorithms. In particular, we prove that any distributed averaging algorithm whose state consists of a single real number and whose (possibly nonlinear) update function satisfies a natural smoothness condition has a worst case running time of at least on the order of n2n^2 on a network of nn nodes. Our results suggest that increased memory or expansion of the state space is crucial for improving the running times of distributed averaging algorithms.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1003.5941,
  title  = {A lower bound for distributed averaging algorithms},
  author = {Alex Olshevsky and John N. Tsitsiklis},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1003.5941},
  year   = {2015}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-21T15:04:46.449Z