Related papers: Optimal non-adaptive solutions for the counterfeit…
Elimination algorithms for bandit identification, which prune the plausible correct answers sequentially until only one remains, are computationally convenient since they reduce the problem size over time. However, existing elimination…
We discuss several coin-weighing problems in which coins are known to be of three different weights and only a balance scale can be used. We start with the task of sorting coins when the pans of the scale can fit only one coin. We prove…
In this paper we investigate the problem of sorting a set of $n$ coins, each with distinct but unknown weights, using an unusual scale. The classical version of this problem, which has been well-studied, gives the user a binary scale,…
Finding a counterfeit coin with the different weight from a set of visually identical coin using a balance, usually a two-armed balance, known as the balance question, is an intersting and inspiring question. Its variants involve…
In this paper we consider a scenario where there are several algorithms for solving a given problem. Each algorithm is associated with a probability of success and a cost, and there is also a penalty for failing to solve the problem. The…
The Change-Making Problem is to represent a given value with the fewest coins under a given coin system. As a variation of the knapsack problem, it is known to be NP-hard. Nevertheless, in most real money systems, the greedy algorithm…
The Frobenius Coin Problem is a classic question in mathematics: given coins of specified denominations, what is the largest amount that cannot be formed using only those coins? This brief work covers a variation of such question, posing a…
This paper studies the trade-off between two different kinds of pure exploration: breadth versus depth. The most biased coin problem asks how many total coin flips are required to identify a "heavy" coin from an infinite bag containing both…
This study investigates three central questions in portfolio optimization. First, whether time-varying moment estimators outperform conventional sample estimators in practical portfolio construction. Second, whether incorporating a turnover…
ApSimon considered the problem of deciding by a process of two weighings on which of a known number of mints emit either coins of a known genuine weight or emit coins of a different secondary but unknown weight. The combinatorial problem…
The Frobenius coin problem in three variables, for three positive relatively prime integers $a_1< a_2< a_3$ asks to find the largest number not representable as $a_1x_1+a_2x_2+a_3x_3$ with non-negative integer coefficients $x_1$, $x_2$ and…
This paper considers a generalized version of the coin weighing problem with a spring scale that lies at the intersection of group testing and compressed sensing problems. Given a collection of $n\geq 2$ coins of total weight $d$ (for a…
In this paper we give the first proof that, under reasonable assumptions, a problem related to counterfeiting quantum money from knots [Farhi et al. 2010] is hard. Along the way, we introduce the concept of a component mixer, define three…
We consider the quickest change detection problem where both the parameters of pre- and post- change distributions are unknown, which prevents the use of classical simple hypothesis testing. Without additional assumptions, optimal solutions…
Many real-world optimization problems have multiple interacting components. Each of these can be NP-hard and they can be in conflict with each other, i.e., the optimal solution for one component does not necessarily represent an optimal…
We obtain optimal lower and upper bounds for the (additive) integrality gaps of integer knapsack problems. In a randomised setting, we show that the integrality gap of a "typical" knapsack problem is drastically smaller than the integrality…
Expanding on recent results of another an algorithm is presented that provides solution to the Frobenius Coin Problem in worst case O(n^2) in the magnitude of the largest denomination.
We consider a variant of the knapsack problem, where items are available with different possible weights. Using a separate budget for these item improvements, the question is: Which items should be improved to which degree such that the…
We study adaptive approximation algorithms for general multivariate linear problems where the sets of input functions are non-convex cones. While it is known that adaptive algorithms perform essentially no better than non-adaptive…
Quantum error correction of a surface code or repetition code requires the pairwise matching of error events in a space-time graph of qubit measurements, such that the total weight of the matching is minimized. The input weights follow from…