English

A polynomial time 12-approximation algorithm for restricted Santa Claus problem

Data Structures and Algorithms 2020-08-10 v2

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the restricted case of the problem and improve the current best approximation ratio by presenting a polynomial time 12-approximation algorithm using linear programming and semi-definite programming. Our algorithm starts by solving the configuration LP and uses the optimum value to get a 12-gap instance. This is then followed by the well-known clustering technique of Bansal and Sviridenko\cite{bansal}. We then apply the analysis of Asadpour \textit{et al.} \cite{AFS,AFS2} to show that the clustered instance has an integer solution which is at least 16\frac{1}{6} times the best possible value, which was computed by solving the configuration LP. To find this solution, we formulate a problem called the Extended Assignment Problem, and formulate it as an LP. We then, show that the associated polytope is integral and gives us an fractional solution of value at least 16\frac{1}{6} times the optimum. From this solution we find a solution to a new quadratic program that we introduce to select one machine from each cluster, and then we show that the resulting instance has an Assignment LP fractional solution of value at least 16\frac{1}{6} times the optimum. We then use the well known rounding technique due to Bezakova and Dani \cite{bezakova} on the 12-gap instance to get our 12-approximate solution.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2007.09849,
  title  = {A polynomial time 12-approximation algorithm for restricted Santa Claus problem},
  author = {S Anil Kumar and N S Narayanaswamy},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.09849},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

This paper first obtained the 12-approximation algorithm and the work is under review. Subsequently, we thought we had our technique to obtain a stronger result. A reader pointed out a bug in the whole technique. The bug is now fixed and the original result is submitted to arxiv

R2 v1 2026-06-23T17:14:05.596Z