English

The asymptotic complexity of partial sorting -- How to learn large posets by pairwise comparisons

Combinatorics 2007-05-23 v1 Computational Complexity Optimization and Control

Abstract

The expected number of pairwise comparisons needed to learn a partial order on n elements is shown to be at least n*n/4-o(n*n), and an algorithm is given that needs only n*n/4+o(n*n) comparisons on average. In addition, the optimal strategy for learning a poset with four elements is presented.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0205049,
  title  = {The asymptotic complexity of partial sorting -- How to learn large posets by pairwise comparisons},
  author = {Jobst Heitzig},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0205049},
  year   = {2007}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-22T16:45:08.172Z