Optimal lower bound on the number of variables for graph identification

Jin Yi Cai, Martin Furer, Neil Immerman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is shown that Ω[n] variables are needed for first-order logic with counting to identify graphs on n vertices. This settles a long-standing open problem. The lower bound remains true over a set of graphs of color class size 4. This contrasts sharply with the fact that three variables suffice to identify all graphs of color class size 3, and two variables suffice to identify almost all graphs. The lower bound is optimal up to multiplication by a constant because n variables obviously suffice to identify graphs on n vertices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAnnual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (Proceedings)
PublisherPubl by IEEE
Pages612-617
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)0818619821, 9780818619823
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Event30th Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science - Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Duration: Oct 30 1989Nov 1 1989

Publication series

NameAnnual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (Proceedings)
ISSN (Print)0272-5428

Other

Other30th Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science
CityResearch Triangle Park, NC, USA
Period10/30/8911/1/89

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Hardware and Architecture

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