A Hybrid Search Algorithm for the Whitehead Minimization Problem

dc.creatorMyasnikov, A. D.
dc.creatorHaralick, R. M
dc.date2006-04-09
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T07:10:42Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T07:10:42Z
dc.descriptionThe Whitehead Minimization problem is a problem of finding elements of the minimal length in the automorphic orbit of a given element of a free group. The classical algorithm of Whitehead that solves the problem depends exponentially on the group rank. Moreover, it can be easily shown that exponential blowout occurs when a word of minimal length has been reached and, therefore, is inevitable except for some trivial cases. In this paper we introduce a deterministic Hybrid search algorithm and its stochastic variation for solving the Whitehead minimization problem. Both algorithms use search heuristics that allow one to find a length-reducing automorphism in polynomial time on most inputs and significantly improve the reduction procedure. The stochastic version of the algorithm employs a probabilistic system that decides in polynomial time whether or not a word is minimal. The stochastic algorithm is very robust. It has never happened that a non-minimal element has been claimed to be minimal.
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/math/0604206
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/math/0604206
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/111503
dc.subjectGroup Theory
dc.subjectProbability
dc.titleA Hybrid Search Algorithm for the Whitehead Minimization Problem
dc.typetext

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