Unsatisfiable Linear k-CNFs Exist, for every k

dc.creatorScheder, Dominik
dc.date2007-08-17
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T08:24:06Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T08:24:06Z
dc.descriptionWe call a CNF formula linear if any two clauses have at most one variable in common. Let Linear k-SAT be the problem of deciding whether a given linear k-CNF formula is satisfiable. Here, a k-CNF formula is a CNF formula in which every clause has size exactly k. It was known that for k >= 3, Linear k-SAT is NP-complete if and only if an unsatisfiable linear k-CNF formula exists, and that they do exist for k >= 4. We prove that unsatisfiable linear k-CNF formulas exist for every k. Let f(k) be the minimum number of clauses in an unsatisfiable linear k-CNF formula. We show that f(k) is Omega(k2^k) and O(4^k*k^4), i.e., minimum size unsatisfiable linear k-CNF formulas are significantly larger than minimum size unsatisfiable k-CNF formulas. Finally, we prove that, surprisingly, linear k-CNF formulas do not allow for a larger fraction of clauses to be satisfied than general k-CNF formulas.
dc.description11 pages
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0708.2336
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0708.2336
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/136226
dc.subjectDiscrete Mathematics
dc.subjectComputational Complexity
dc.subjectLogic in Computer Science
dc.titleUnsatisfiable Linear k-CNFs Exist, for every k
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