In this work we suggest a new model for generating random satisfiable k-CNF formulas. To generate such formulas -- randomly permute all 2^k n k possible clauses over the variables x_1, ..., x_n, and starting from the empty formula, go over the clauses one by one, including each new clause as you go along if after its addition the formula remains satisfiable. We study the evolution of this process, namely the distribution over formulas obtained after scanning through the first m clauses (in the random permutation's order). Random processes with conditioning on a certain property being respected are widely studied in the context of graph properties. This study was pioneered by Ruci 'nski and Wormald in 1992 for graphs with a fixed degree sequence, and also by Erd o s, Suen, and Winkler in 1995 for triangle-free and bipartite graphs. Since then many other graph properties were studied such as planarity and H-freeness. Thus our model is a natural extension of this approach to the satisfiability setting. Our main contribution is as follows. For m cn, c=c(k) a sufficiently large constant, we are able to characterize the structure of the solution space of a typical formula in this distribution. Specifically, we show that typically all satisfying assignments are essentially clustered in one cluster, and all but e^ - (m n) n of the variables take the same value in all satisfying assignments. We also describe a polynomial time algorithm that finds with high probability a satisfying assignment for such formulas.
Almost all polynomial-time heuristics suggested so far for random instances (either SAT or graph optimization problems) were analyzed when the input is sampled according to a planted-solution distribution, or various semi-random variants thereof. Alon and Kahale @cite_21 suggest a polynomial time algorithm based on spectral techniques that @math properly @math -colors a random graph from the planted @math -coloring distribution (the distribution of graphs generated by partitioning the @math vertices into @math equally-sized color classes, and including every edge connecting two different color classes with probability @math ), for graphs with average degree greater than some constant. In the SAT context, Flaxman's algorithm, drawing on ideas from @cite_21 , solves @math planted 3SAT instances where the clause-variable ratio is greater than some constant. Also @cite_15 @cite_6 @cite_12 address the planted 3SAT distribution.
@cite_15 @cite_21 @cite_12 @cite_6
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We present an algorithm for solving 3SAT instances. Several algorithms have been proved to work whp (with high probability) for various SAT distributions. However, an algorithm that works whp has a drawback. Indeed for typical instances it works well, however for some rare inputs it does not provide a solution at all. Alternatively, one could require that the algorithm always produce a correct answer but perform well on average. Expected polynomial time formalizes this notion. We prove that for some natural distribution on 3CNF formulas, called planted 3SAT, our algorithm has expected polynomial (in fact, almost linear) running time. The planted 3SAT distribution is the set of satisfiable 3CNF formulas generated in the following manner. First, a truth assignment is picked uniformly at random. Then, each clause satisfied by it is included in the formula with probability p. Extending previous work for the planted 3SAT distribution, we present, for the first time for a satisfiable SAT distribution, an expected polynomial time algorithm. Namely, it solves all 3SAT instances, and over the planted distribution (with p = d n2, d > 0 a sufficiently large constant) it runs in expected polynomial time. Our results extend to k-SAT for any constant k. For many random constraint satisfaction problems, by now there exist asymptotically tight estimates of the largest constraint density for which solutions exist. At the same time, for many of these problems, all known polynomial-time algorithms stop finding solutions at much smaller densities. For example, it is well-known that it is easy to color a random graph using twice as many colors as its chromatic number. Indeed, some of the simplest possible coloring algorithms achieve this goal. Given the simplicity of those algorithms, one would expect room for improvement. Yet, to date, no algorithm is known that uses (2 - epsiv)chi colors, in spite of efforts by numerous researchers over the years. In view of the remarkable resilience of this factor of 2 against every algorithm hurled at it, we find it natural to inquire into its origin. We do so by analyzing the evolution of the set of k-colorings of a random graph, viewed as a subset of 1,...,k n, as edges are added. We prove that the factor of 2 corresponds in a precise mathematical sense to a phase transition in the geometry of this set. Roughly speaking, we prove that the set of k-colorings looks like a giant ball for k ges 2chi, but like an error-correcting code for k les (2 - epsiv)chi. We also prove that an analogous phase transition occurs both in random k-SAT and in random hypergraph 2-coloring. And that for each of these three problems, the location of the transition corresponds to the point where all known polynomial-time algorithms fail. To prove our results we develop a general technique that allows us to establish rigorously much of the celebrated 1-step replica-symmetry-breaking hypothesis of statistical physics for random CSPs. Over the past 30 years numerous algorithms have been designed for symmetry breaking problems in the LOCAL model, such as maximal matching, MIS, vertex coloring, and edge-coloring. For most problems the best randomized algorithm is at least exponentially faster than the best deterministic algorithm. In this paper we prove that these exponential gaps are necessary and establish connections between the deterministic and randomized complexities in the LOCAL model. Each result has a very compelling take-away message: 1. Fast @math -coloring of trees requires random bits: Building on the recent lower bounds of , we prove that the randomized complexity of @math -coloring a tree with maximum degree @math is @math , whereas its deterministic complexity is @math for any @math . This also establishes a large separation between the deterministic complexity of @math -coloring and @math -coloring trees. 2. Randomized lower bounds imply deterministic lower bounds: We prove that any deterministic algorithm for a natural class of problems that runs in @math rounds can be transformed to run in @math rounds. If the transformed algorithm violates a lower bound (even allowing randomization), then one can conclude that the problem requires @math time deterministically. 3. Deterministic lower bounds imply randomized lower bounds: We prove that the randomized complexity of any natural problem on instances of size @math is at least its deterministic complexity on instances of size @math . This shows that a deterministic @math lower bound for any problem implies a randomized @math lower bound. It also illustrates that the graph shattering technique is absolutely essential to the LOCAL model. We study a family of closely-related distributed graph problems, which we call degree splitting, where roughly speaking the objective is to partition (or orient) the edges such that each node's degree is split almost uniformly. Our findings lead to answers for a number of problems, a sampling of which includes: • We present a poly log n round deterministic algorithm for (2Δ−1)·(1+o(1))-edge-coloring, where Δ denotes the maximum degree. Modulo the 1 + o(1) factor, this settles one of the long-standing open problems of the area from the 1990's (see e.g. Panconesi and Srinivasan [PODC'92]). Indeed, a weaker requirement of (2Δ − 1) · poly log Δ-edge-coloring in poly log n rounds was asked for in the 4th open question in the Distributed Graph Coloring book by Barenboim and Elkin. • We show that sinkless orientation---i.e., orienting edges such that each node has at least one out-going edge---on Δ-regular graphs can be solved in O(logΔ log n) rounds randomized and in O(logΔ n) rounds deterministically. These prove the corresponding lower bounds by [STOC'16] and Chang, Kopelowitz, and Pettie [FOCS'16] to be tight. Moreover, these show that sinkless orientation exhibits an exponential separation between its randomized and deterministic complexities, akin to the results of for Δ-coloring Δ-regular trees. • We present a randomized O(log4 n) round algorithm for orienting a-arboricity graphs with maximum out-degree a(1 + e). This can be also turned into a decomposition into a(1 + e) forests when a = Ω(log n) and into a(1 + e) pseduo-forests when a = o(log n). Obtaining an efficient distributed decomposition into less than 2a forests was stated as the 10th open problem in the book by Barenboim and Elkin.