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A 2 + ɛ approximation algorithm for the k-MST problem

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Abstract

For any ɛ > 0 we give a (2 + ɛ)-approximation algorithm for the problem of finding a minimum tree spanning any k vertices in a graph (k-MST), improving a 3-approximation algorithm by Garg [10]. As in [10] the algorithm extends to a (2 + ɛ)-approximation algorithm for the minimum tour that visits any k vertices, provided the edge costs satisfy the triangle inequality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, USA

    Sanjeev Arora

  2. Department of Computing & Software, McMaster University, Canada

    George Karakostas

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  1. Sanjeev Arora
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  2. George Karakostas
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Correspondence to George Karakostas.

Additional information

Research supported by NSF CAREER award NSF CCR-9502747, NSF grants CCR-0205594 and CCR-0098180, an Alfred Sloan Fellowship, and a Packard Fellowship.

Research supported by an NSERC Discovery grant.

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Arora, S., Karakostas, G. A 2 + ɛ approximation algorithm for the k-MST problem. Math. Program. 107, 491–504 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-005-0693-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-005-0693-1

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