University Digital Conservancy :: Browsing by Subject "University of Minnesota Duluth"

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1 vs 2 Matchup as UMD Takes on the Badgers of Wisconsin This Weekend (2017-02-10)

(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2017) Rush, Austin; University of Minnesota Duluth

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(1+1) Evolutionary Algorithm on Random Planted Vertex Cover Problems

(2024-03) Kearney, Jack

Evolutionary Algorithms are powerful optimization tools that use the power of randomness and inspiration from biology to achieve results. A common combinatorial optimization problem is the recovery of a minimum vertex cover on some graph 𝐺 = (𝑉, 𝐸). In this work, an evolutionary algorithm will be employed on specific instances of the minimum vertex cover problem containing a random planted solution. This situation is common in data networks and translates to a core set of nodes and larger fringe set that are connected to the core. This study introduces a parameterized analysis of a standard (1+1) Evolutionary Algorithm applied to the random planted distribution of vertex cover problems. When the planted cover is at most logarithmic, restarting the (1+1) EA every 𝑂(𝑛 log 𝑛) steps will, within polynomial time, yield a cover at least as small as the planted cover for sufficiently dense random graphs (𝑝 > 0.71). For superlogarithmic planted covers, the (1+1) EA is proven to find a solution within fixed-parameter tractable time in expectation. To complement these theoretical investigations, a series of computational experiments were conducted, highlighting the intricate interplay between planted cover size, graph density, and runtime. A critical range of edge probability was also investigated.