Volume 2 (2006) Article 2 pp. 19-51
Proving Integrality Gaps without Knowing the Linear Program
Received: June 1, 2005
Published: February 3, 2006
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Keywords: linear programming, inapproximability, approximation algorithms, NP-hard problems, integrality gaps, lift-and-project, vertex cover
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ACM Classification: G.1.6, F.1.3
AMS Classification: 68Q17, 90C05, 90C57

Abstract: [Plain Text Version]

Proving integrality gaps for linear relaxations of NP optimization problems is a difficult task and usually undertaken on a case-by-case basis. We initiate a more systematic approach. We prove an integrality gap of 2 -o(1) for three families of linear relaxations for vertex cover,} and our methods seem relevant to other problems as well.