Lecture 3

Learning objectives

After this class, you should be able to:

1. Use techniques used for the vertex cover approximation algorithm to develop approximation algorithms for other problems and analyze them.

Reading assignment

1. Chapter 1, up to (and including) section 1.1.
2. Chapter 2, page 15.

Exercises and review questions

• Questions on current lecture's material
  1. Exercise 1.2.
  2. Exercise 1.3.
  3. Give a practical situation in which the vertex cover problem can be used. Clearly define the set of vertices and the set of edges for this application. (Post your answer on the discussion board under 'course tools' on blackboard, in the 'Lectures' forum.)

• Questions on next lecture's material
  1. Give an example for the set cover problem.