1982SIAM Journal on Algebraic and Discrete MethodsRequires access

On the Greedy Heuristic for Continuous Covering and Packing Problems

Marshall L. Fisher, Laurence A. Wolsey

Open publisher page 48 citations

Abstract

Worst-case bounds are given on the performance of the greedy heuristic for a continuous version of the set covering problem. This generalizes results of Chvatal, Johnson and Lovasz for the 0-1 covering problem. The results for the greedy heuristic and for other heuristics are obtained by treating the covering problem as a limiting case of a generalized location problem for which worst-case results are known. An alternative approach involving dual greedy heuristics leads also to worst-case bounds for continuous packing problems.

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What this paper is about

Worst-case bounds are given on the performance of the greedy heuristic for a continuous version of the set covering problem. This generalizes results of Chvatal, Johnson and Lovasz for the 0-1 covering problem. The results for the greedy heuristic and for other heuristics are obtained by treating the covering problem as a limiting case of a generalized location problem for which worst-case results are known. An alternative approach involving dual greedy heuristics leads also to worst-case bounds for continuous packing problems.

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Available abstract

Worst-case bounds are given on the performance of the greedy heuristic for a continuous version of the set covering problem. This generalizes results of Chvatal, Johnson and Lovasz for the 0-1 covering problem. The results for the greedy heuristic and for other heuristics are obtained by treating the covering problem as a limiting case of a generalized location problem for which worst-case results are known. An alternative approach involving dual greedy heuristics leads also to worst-case bounds for continuous packing problems.

Key concepts: Heuristics, Greedy algorithm, Mathematics, Mathematical optimization, Heuristic, Limiting, Set (abstract data type), Greedy randomized adaptive search procedure

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