English

Faster algorithm for Unique $(k,2)$-CSP

Data Structures and Algorithms 2022-06-30 v2

Abstract

In a (k,2)(k,2)-Constraint Satisfaction Problem we are given a set of arbitrary constraints on pairs of kk-ary variables, and are asked to find an assignment of values to these variables such that all constraints are satisfied. The (k,2)(k,2)-CSP problem generalizes problems like kk-coloring and kk-list-coloring. In the Unique (k,2)(k,2)-CSP problem, we add the assumption that the input set of constraints has at most one satisfying assignment. Beigel and Eppstein gave an algorithm for (k,2)(k,2)-CSP running in time O((0.4518k)n)O\left(\left(0.4518k\right)^n\right) for k>3k>3 and O(1.356n)O\left(1.356^n\right) for k=3k=3, where nn is the number of variables. Feder and Motwani improved upon the Beigel-Eppstein algorithm for k11k\geq 11. Hertli, Hurbain, Millius, Moser, Scheder and Szedl{\'a}k improved these bounds for Unique (k,2)(k,2)-CSP for every k5k\geq 5. We improve the result of Hertli et al. and obtain better bounds for Unique~(k,2)(k,2)-CSP for~k5k\geq 5. In particular, we improve the running time of Unique~(5,2)(5,2)-CSP from~O(2.254n)O\left(2.254^n\right) to~O(2.232n)O\left(2.232^n\right) and Unique~(6,2)(6,2)-CSP from~O(2.652n)O\left(2.652^n\right) to~O(2.641n)O\left(2.641^n\right).

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2110.03122,
  title  = {Faster algorithm for Unique $(k,2)$-CSP},
  author = {Or Zamir},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.03122},
  year   = {2022}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-24T06:41:19.766Z