Point placement on the line by distance data

Journal article, 2003

Given partial distance information in a set of n points on the real line, we want to figure out the positions of these points, subject to translation and reflection. This type of problem is motivated by DNA mapping. We show the following results: If we can ask arbitrary distance queries for pairs of points then 2n-3 adaptive queries will be optimal. Surprisingly, if the learner knows in advance that the n points have distinct locations, 8n/5 nonadaptive queries, or alternatively 3n/2 queries in 2 rounds will be sufficient. This might be further improved, as we only have the lower bounds 4n/3 and n, respectively. The subject is related to some rigidity concept for graphs. In another version of the problem, the graph of distance measures is already given, that means, we cannot choose our distance queries at our own discretion. Here we give a simple efficient algorithm which produces a representation of all linear layouts if the given graph is chordal.