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A fixed-parameter algorithm for the directed feedback vertex set problem

Published: 17 May 2008 Publication History

Abstract

The (parameterized) feedback vertex set problem on directed graphs, which we refer to as the dfvs problem, is defined as follows: given a directed graph G and a parameter k, either construct a feedback vertex set of at most k vertices in G or report that no such set exists. Whether or not the dfvs problem is fixed-parameter tractable has been a well-known open problem in parameterized computation and complexity, i.e., whether the problem can be solved in time f(k)nO(1) for some function f. In this paper we develop new algorithmic techniques that result in an algorithm with running time 4k k! nO(1) for the dfvs problem, thus showing that this problem is fixed-parameter tractable.

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      cover image ACM Conferences
      STOC '08: Proceedings of the fortieth annual ACM symposium on Theory of computing
      May 2008
      712 pages
      ISBN:9781605580470
      DOI:10.1145/1374376
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      Published: 17 May 2008

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      May 17 - 20, 2008
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