Skip to main content
Log in

An efficient algorithm for minimumk-covers in weighted graphs

  • Published:
Mathematical Programming Submit manuscript

Abstract

Consider an edge-weighted graphG = (V, L), and define ak-cover C as a subset of the edgesL such that each vertex inV is incident to at least one edge ofC, and|C| = k. GivenG andk, the problem is to find ak-cover of minimum weight sum. This paper presents characterizations of minimumk-covers, and shows their weight to be convex with the parameterk. An efficient algorithm is presented which generates minimumk-covers continuously as the parameterk ranges over all feasible values, together with a proof of optimality. The computational order of this algorithm is found to be|V| ⋅ |L| 2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.L. Balinski, “Integer programming: methods, uses, computations”,Management Science 12 (13) (1965) 253–313.

    Google Scholar 

  2. M.L. Balinski, “Labelling to obtain a maximum matching”,Proceedings of the conference on combinatorial mathematics and its applications, University of North Carolina, April, 1967.

  3. M.L. Balinski, “Establishing the matching polytope”,Journal of Combinatorial Theory 13 (1972) 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  4. C. Berge, “Two theorems in graph theory”,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 43 (1957) 842–844.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. Edmonds, “Covers and packings in a family of sets”,Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 68 (1962) 494–499.

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. Edmonds, “Paths, trees, and flowers”,Canadian Journal of Mathematics 17 (1965) 449–467.

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. Edmonds, “Maximum matching and polyhedron with 0, 1-vertices”,Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards 69B (1965) 125–130.

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. Edmonds and E. Johnson, “Matching: a well-solved class of integer linear programs”, in: H. Guy, ed.,Combinatorial structures and their applications (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1970) pp. 89–92.

    Google Scholar 

  9. H. Everett III, “Generalized Lagrange multiplier method for solving problems of optimum allocation of resources”,Operations Research 11 (1963) 399–417.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J.B. Kruskal, Jr., “On the shortest spanning subtree of a graph and the traveling salesman problem”,Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society 7 (1956) 48–50.

    Google Scholar 

  11. R.Z. Norman and M.O. Rabin, “An algorithm for a minimum cover of a graph”,Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society 10 (1959) 315–319.

    Google Scholar 

  12. L.J. White, “A parametric study of matchings and coverings in weighted graphs”, Ph.D. Thesis, Tech. Rept. 06920-11-T, Systems Engineering Laboratory, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  13. L.J. White, “Minimum covers of fixed cardinality in weighted graphs”,SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics 21 (1971) 104–113.

    Google Scholar 

  14. L.J. White and M.L. Gillenson, “Optimum center allocation”, Tech. Rept. OSU-CISRC-TR-72-1, Computer and Information Science Research Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (1972).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

White, L.J., Gillenson, M.L. An efficient algorithm for minimumk-covers in weighted graphs. Mathematical Programming 8, 20–42 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01580426

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01580426

Keywords

Navigation