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Guillotine subdivisions approximate polygonal subdivisions: A simple new method for the geometric k-MST problem

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34 Scopus citations

Abstract

We show that any rectilinear polygonal subdivision in the plane can be converted into a "guillotine" subdivision whose length is at most twice that of the original subdivision. "Guillotine" subdivisions have a simple recursive structure that allows one to search for "optimal" such subdivisions in polynomial time, using dynamic programming. In particular, a consequence of our main theorem is a very simple proof that the k-MST problem in the plane has a constant factor polynomial-time approximation algorithm, and the constant factor that we obtain is a substantial improvement over all previous bounds: We obtain a factor of 2 for the L1 metric, and a factor of 2√2 for the L2 (Euclidean) metric.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 7th Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, SODA 1996
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages402-408
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)0898713668
StatePublished - Jan 28 1996
Event7th Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, SODA 1996 - Atlanta, United States
Duration: Jan 28 1996Jan 30 1996

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms
VolumePart F129447

Conference

Conference7th Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, SODA 1996
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta
Period01/28/9601/30/96

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