Randomized vs. deterministic distance query strategies for point location on the line
Journal article, 2006

Suppose that n points are located at n mutually distinct but unknown positions on the line, and we can measure their pairwise distances. How many measurements are needed to determine their relative positions uniquely? The problem is motivated by DNA mapping techniques based on pairwise distance measures. It is also interesting for its own and surprisingly deep. Continuing our earlier work on this problem, we give a simple randomized two-round strategy that needs, with high probability, only (1+o(1))n measurements. We show that deterministic strategies cannot manage the task in two rounds with (1+o(1))n measurements in the worst case. We improve an earlier deterministic bound to roughly 4n/3 measurements.

learning by queries

graph rigidity

DNA mapping

randomized strategy

Author

Peter Damaschke

Chalmers, Computer Science and Engineering (Chalmers), Computing Science (Chalmers)

Discrete Applied Mathematics

0166-218X (ISSN)

Vol. 154 3 478-484

Subject Categories

Computer Science

DOI

10.1016/j.dam.2005.07.014

More information

Created

10/7/2017